Students use a place-value chart and physically add tokens that represent ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, and hundred-thousands.  When there are more than 9 tokens in a place, an “exchange” and “regrouping” occurs.

First, students build each addend with place value disks.

In the next step, students regroup when they have 10 or more disks in one place.  They exchange the 10 disks for 1 disk in the next higher place.  A group of 10 ones exchanges for a ten; a group of 10 tens exchanges for a hundred.

Finally, students combine the disks in each place and name the sum.