Place Value Game

At the beginning of the year, I spend a lot of time with my math group on developing number sense. Number sense can be defined simply as a student's ability to use and understand numbers. A big part of number sense is understanding place value - that the digit 8 in the tens place represents 80. One of the games that I like to play is called - rather obviously - The Place Value Game. 

We will play a variation of it tomorrow in math class, and you can play at home. All you need is a deck of cards, to have the digits 0-9 (take out face cards, and mark the 10 card to become the zero).  You also need a  Place value mat.     

Directions:

Partner A turns over the first card and decides where to place that card on his/her place value mat.   Once the card is placed, it may not be moved.

Partner B turns over a card and decides where to place that card on his/her place value mat.   Again, the card may not be moved once it is placed.

Play continues with each partner turning over a card and deciding where to place it on the place value mat in hopes of building the largest number.

When all slots are filled on the place value mats, partners compare numbers to see who created the larger number.   That partner wins a point for the round.