Place Value: Trading Tens for Hundreds

Kids are introduced to the concept of place value in the second grade. Place value for kids is a very important core concept of mathematics. Once kids clearly understand the place value it becomes easier for them to move to the more complex arithmetic problems. But it is important to make learning place value for kids into a fun activity.

Before starting to teach them about trading tens for hundreds, you should determine if they have the concept of place value clear. First, check if they know how to trade ones for tens. Once they have a good concept of the base then it will get easier to teach them trading tens for hundred.

Here are a few steps on teaching trading tens to kids.

1. Recall Previous Knowledge

Ask the students what they know about place value. Then give them some examples and simple place value questions of ones and tens. Write “78” on the whiteboard and ask the kids to identify the tens place and the one's place. Once you are sure that the kids have a clear concept of ones and tens, move to the next step.

2. Distribute the Poker Chips

If you had used poker chips to teach the ones and tens then use the same chips again to teach trading tens for hundreds. Tell the kids that the white are ones, the blues are tens and the red are hundreds. Ask the students to trade ten white ones for one blue chip.

3. Trading Tens for Hundreds

Tell the students how to count ten blue chips like 10, 20, 30, 40,.., 90. Now tell them how to trade ten blue ones for one red one.

4. Start A Game

Once they get the concept of a hundred than start playing with the chips and ask questions like how to change the hundred into 200, 300 and so on.

Also, incorporate base ten games and number boards into your games to teach place value for kids. These games are more effective in teaching place value to kids than a simple whiteboard demonstration.