The focus of this standard is for students to demonstrate understanding of place value concepts with all 2-digit numbers up to 99.
Unitize by making a ten from a collection of 10 ones:
Unitizing is a sophisticated concept where students are able to recognize, represent, and explain that 10 ones can be represented by a group of 10 using concrete materials or drawings on a ten frame, which students began in kindergarten (NC.K.NBT.1).
In first grade, students are asked to start to group those ten individual ones as a whole unit: “one ten.” This is known as unitizing.
When students unitize, they are able to count groups as though they were individual objects. For example, 4 trains of ten cubes each have a value of 10 and would be counted as 40 ones or as 4 tens. It can often be challenging for students to consider a group of something as “one” when previous experiences have been counting single objects. This is the foundation of the place value system and requires time and rich experiences with concrete manipulatives to develop.
Note: Pre-grouped materials (e.g., materials like place value base ten blocks and bean sticks, which must be traded to make a ten) should not be introduced until a student has a firm understanding of composing and decomposing ten. Additionally, students should only use proportional manipulatives for place-value work, such as 10 snap cubes or a base ten rod, that have a “ten” that is ten times bigger than the "one."
Model the numbers 11 to 19:
This aspect of the standard should be integrated throughout the year, building on the work from kindergarten (NC.K.NBT.1).
Demonstrate that multiples of ten refer to a group of tens with 0 ones: (2nd Quarter)
This aspect of the standard expects students to create a representation of a multiple of 10 (between 10 and 90) and explain the idea that these numbers contain groups of 10 and no additional ones. Students should also have ample experience building 2-digit numbers with concrete models and drawings AND represent the number in expanded form, which is an addition equation that shows the tens and ones (e.g. 75 = 70 + 5). Expanded form is a foundational application of place value and in Grade 1 should always be joined with a representation with concrete models such as place value (base ten) blocks or drawings of place value blocks.