Place Value & Number Sense

Numbers:

Numbers are used for many reasons.  There are 5 major number use categories:

          ~ counting (6 dogs; 5,532,522 paper clips, etc)

          ~ measuring ( 1 inch, 15 mph, 26 grams, etc.)

          ~ locations ( 6:15 A.M., 96 degrees F, 2010, etc.)

          ~ ratios, percentages, and scale (90%, 1/2 as many, etc.)

          ~ identification numbers (phone numbers, zip codes, etc.)

Source: Everyday Mathematics, University of Chicago

Typically, I find that students have trouble with numbers and number sense, and many times it's because they don't fully understand that numbers are used in many different ways.  I plan on starting off my lessons on Number Sense discussing and looking at the ways numbers are used.  This is something we'll spiral back to throughout the entire year.  

Base Ten Place Values:

This system is based on three principles:

          ~ Using the digits 0 through 9, you can write

              any whole number, no matter what size

          ~ The value of each digit in the number

              depends on it's place/position in the

              number

          ~ Place value increases tenfold from each

              place to the next higher place. 

              For this one, I plan to have kids explore to

             see that ten units of the place they are in

             will equal the next place.  For example: ten

             ones equal one ten and ten tens equal one

             hundred, etc.  This tends to be something

             we teach, but never the understanding

             behind HOW the number system is set up. 

Source: Everyday Mathematics, University of Chicago

Showdown Game

Standard form & word form to the millions Place

Digit Deal

(rounding/comparing)

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