Growth Point 1
Place Value Growth Points activities
The tasks listed on the following pages are rich tasks from various sources that may be used with multi-level groups or students who are working at a particular level.
1. Reading, writing, interpreting and ordering single-digit numbers
Can read, write, interpret and order single-digit numbers.
30-second challenge
Materials: Collection of counters, dice, timer, blank card.
Activity: Teacher sets the timer for 30 seconds. In that time students roll a dice and collect that quantity of counters for their collection. They repeat this process until the timer is finished. At the end of the time allocation, students estimate how many counters they have collected. Discuss strategies students can use for counting the total of their collection. The students then record their total on a blank card. Ask students to write and draw everything they know about this number.
Related key ideas: Quantity, number triad.
Variation: Ask the whole class to order their numbers by placing them on a number line. Extend the game to a one-minute challenge and expand into two-digit numbers.
What's the largest number?
Materials: Calculator.
Activity: Students are given a calculator each and asked to type in the largest number they can read. Students share their number and everything they know about it. They then complete a think board using their number by recording the number in words, numerals and pictures.
Related key ideas: Quantity, number triad.
Variation: Use the class think boards to order all of the numbers the students have created.
Building towers of ten
Materials: Unifix cubes, dice, blank 10-frame.
Activity: Students take turns to roll the dice and collect that number of Unifix cubes and place them on a 10-frame. Each time they fill a frame they must collect their cubes and make a tower of 10. After three rolls, students compare their towers and left-over cubes to decide who has collected the most. Encourage students to count the towers in 10s.
Related key ideas: Quantity.
Variation: Get students to represent their number using words and numerals. Play with the aim being first to get 100 (10 towers) wins.
Dominoes
Materials: Domino cards.
Activity: Students match the domino cards end to end with equivalent values. Play moves from player to player until no more cards can be placed.
Related key ideas: Quantity.
Line up
Materials: One worksheet per student.
Activity: Students draw a line to connect the equal values on either side of the page.
Related key ideas: Quantity.
Tell me three
Materials: Domino cards.
Activity: Students match the domino cards end to end with equivalent values. Play moves from player to player until no more cards can be placed.
Related key ideas: Quantity.
Biggest stand up
Materials: Stickers numbered from 1 to number of students in class.
Activity: Students find a partner in the room. The student with the largest number stands up, while the smaller number sits down. Share some pairs with the class. Pairs then join with another pair to make four. Again, order from smallest number sitting down to largest standing on toes. Share again with the whole class. Discuss whether students had to change their position when others joined in. Combine groups of four and continue until the whole class is one large group in order from smallest to largest.
Related key ideas: Quantity, digit position.
Variation: Ask odd numbers to stand and even numbers to sit. Is there a pattern when this happens? What is it? What would happen to the teacher if they were zero? Should they stand or sit?
Roll, roll...
Materials: Paper, dice, icy-pole sticks, rubber bands
Activity: Students roll a dice eight times and record their result on a piece of paper. Rewrite the digits in counting order (e.g. 9 8 7 3 6 7 2 2 becomes 2 2 3 6 7 7 8 9). Repeat. Students use icy-pole sticks to keep track of their total, bundling the sticks with rubber bands every time they get 10.
Related key ideas: Quantity, base-10 system.
Variation: Could discuss how the use of bundling makes it easier to total the numbers later. Investigation could also centre around the occurrence of odd compared to even numbers.