Place Value Unit 1 – Session A

Focus: Know what each digit is worth in a 5-digit number. Add and subtract 1s, 10s, 100s, 1000s
and 10,000s.
You will need
o 1 to 6 dice for each pair
o Calculator (optional)

Advice
If supporting just one child, act as the child’s partner and adapt the activity accordingly. If guiding a group,
place children in pairs to aid discussion.

What to do
 Write the number 63,524 and ask children to read it (sixty-three thousand, five hundred and
twenty-four). Remind children how the comma helps us to read it – the thousands are before the
comma, and then the 100s, 10s and 1s are after the comma.
 Point to each digit in turn and ask what it is worth, e.g. 6 is worth 60,000.
 Write 55,555 and ask children to read it. We are going to find what to add to, and subtract from,
63,524 to make 55,555. Start with the first digit. How can we change 60,000 to 50,000? Agree you
can subtract 10,000. Write the matching subtraction, 63,524 – 10,000 = 53,524. If children seem
unsure, check on a calculator.
 Repeat for the 1000s, then the 100s, 10s and finally the 1s.
 Children roll a 1–6 dice five times to make a 5-digit number (if they roll a 5, they should roll again).
 They find out what to add and subtract, one stage at a time to make the number 55,555. They
record each addition/subtraction as above.
 Repeat, starting with a different set of dice throws.
Example:
Throw 3, 6, 1, 3, 2 Make number: 63,123
63,123 – 10,000 = 53,123
53,123 + 2000 = 55,123
55,123 + 400 = 55,523
55,523 + 30 = 55,553
55,553 + 2 = 55,555
Outcomes
 I know what each digit is worth in a 5-digit number.
 I can add and subtract 1s, 10s, 100s, 1000s and 10,000s.

Notes for teacher

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted by individual users. for-tutors_pv_session-A_5107