Place value is an important concept for students to master. Couple a math concept with a card game to engage students of all learning abilities. A deck of cards can be easily turned into a math game that can be played at home or in class.
Place Value Game for the Class
Place value game for the class is a great introduction to place values. Teacher may have students do the activity independently once the rules of the game are known.
Number of Players: 2 or more
Materials
- 2 deck of cards (remove all face cards and tens from the deck)
- base 10 blocks
Instructions
- Shuffle the cards and give 3 cards to a student.
- Each card represents itself with the exception of the ace which represents 1.
- Pose questions for students to model the number with base 10 blocks.
Questions
- Show the least number and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show the greatest number and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show a number between the least and greatest number and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show a number closest to 500 and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show as many numbers as possible with the 3 cards.
- Show the least number and subtract 100. Record the answer.
- Show the greatest number and add 7 tens. Record the answer.
- Show the least number with 2 digits and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show the greatest number with 2 digits and model with base 10 blocks.
- Show the greatest number with 1 digit and model with base 10 blocks.
Competition
Students can learn place value as they compete against each other. Play the game as above but students will compete with a partner or in a group of four. At the end of each question posed by the teacher, the student closest will win the round. Students can keep a tally and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Greatest Place Value Game
Materials
- 1 deck of cards (remove all face cards and tens from the deck)
Instructions
- Students are paired with another student.
- Students are given a deck of cards that have the face cards and tens removed from the deck.
- One of the students shuffles the deck and gives his partner and himself 3 cards. The rest of the deck is placed between the two players.
- Players arrange the cards to create the greatest number.
- Players place the cards down and the player with the greatest number wins. Players are not allowed to reorganize the numbers after cards have been shown, even if a greater number could have been created.
- Player who has the greatest number wins the round and collects all the cards.
- Play continues until no more cards are available.
- Students count the cards and the one with the most cards wins the game.
Place Value Card Game Variations
- Game can be played with any number of digits. Students learning about millions are given 7 cards and must organize the numbers to have the greatest value.
- The objective of the game can change. The greatest place value game can be changed to the least place value game. Instructions remain the same with the exception that the objective is to create the smallest number.
- Rounding the greatest or least place value.
Place value card games is a great math activity that can be played all year. Place value is an important concept to master and the use of cards make it more engaging for students.
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