Hands on Place Value Activities for
Upper Elementary

Here are FOUR FUN hands-on place value activities that will get your students excited about learning this important math concept!

Place value activities can be cut and dry. But, they don’t have to be! In upper elementary, students have seen this material a few times and are ready to practice these concepts in new and exciting ways. Bring place value to life with these low-prep ideas! 

Place Value Mystery Numbers

This is a partner game where each student creates and writes down a large number (you may specify to the thousands, million, or billions, or just let them create one of their choosing). They keep their number hidden from their partner. Then, partners begin guessing, “do you have a 4 in the hundreds place?” If the answer is yes, the partner writes this down and gets to take another guess. If the answer is no, the play goes to the next student. Students continue guessing until they are able to reveal the number that their partner chose. It is best to have students choose numbers that go to the same place value (hundred thousands, ten millions, hundred billions, etc.) You can extend this game and have students compare their numbers with <, >, =, write their number in standard, expanded, and word forms, etc. 

Morning Meeting Number Challenge

When your children come in in the morning give each student a playing card (take out the 10, a, k, q, j). Then, put students in random groups (I usually create four groups). Challenge them to create the largest number that they can using the digits that they were given. Once they have their number, they should write it in word form and standard form. Next, pair groups together. The two groups must work together to compare their numbers using <, >, =. Then, they can share at morning meeting. There are many ways to differentiate this activity. You can create smaller groups or even partner pairs, challenge students to create both the largest number and the smallest number that they can using the given digits, etc.

Place Value Tic-Tac-Math

This game is so much fun – it combines a classic game of tic-tac-toe with important math concepts for an all-around great time in the classroom. Students love the friendly competition and teachers love the standards-aligned practice. A win-win. In the place value tic-tac-math game, students practice writing numbers in standard, expanded, and word form.

Want to learn more about Tic-Tac-Math? Check out this blog post! 

Place Value Number Names

This activity is perfect for those first weeks of school. Students use the number/letter code system to find out what their number name is. Then, they color and design their name based on the place value key. These make a beautiful display for a math bulletin board or hallway presentation!