Place Value Dice Games
Math Activities to Teach the Concept of Ones, Tens, and Hundreds
Oct 27, 2009
Place value can be simplified with a quick dice game that challenges and engages students. Objective of the place value game is to create numbers with specific characteristics. For students to be successful, they must understand hundreds are greater than tens, and tens greater than one.
Dice are an inexpensive math manipulative for the classroom. Buy dice in bulk at a dollar store or have students bring in two dice from home to use throughout the school term.
Greatest Place Value Dice Game
Players: 2 or more
Materials
- 3 dice
- place value recording sheet
Place Value Recording Sheet
- Open a blank document using word processing software such as Microsoft Word.
- Create a table with 3 columns and 6 rows.
- Columns represent the number units. Ones, tens, and hundreds are the subtitles for the columns. Columns may be increased or decreased dependent on the place values being highlighted.
- Numbers will be placed on the rows under each column to create a number. Number of rows is dependent on the number of games to be played.
Greatest Place Value Dice Game
- Objective of the game is for the student to create the greatest number possible.
- Each student is given a place value recording sheet and a pen. Pen is the ideal recorder as it cannot be erased and eliminates cheating.
- Teacher rolls a die and students must place the number in the ones, tens, or hundreds column. Students must decide if the number is best placed in the ones, tens, or hundreds column to create the greatest number.
- Teacher rolls the die two more times separately. Each time the student must decide if the number should be placed in the ones, tens, or hundreds column.
- After the teacher has rolled the die three times, students will have a number recorded. As a class, students will create the greatest number with the 3 digits.
- Students highlight, circle, or check mark the number if it was the greatest possible number. At the end of the game, students with the most check marks wins the game.
Place Value to the Nearest Hundred
Players: 2 or more
Materials
- 3 dice
Instructions
- Objective of the game is to create a number that is closest to 500.
- Each student is given a place value recording sheet and a pen. Pen is the ideal recorder as it cannot be erased and eliminates cheating.
- Teacher rolls a die and students must place the number in the ones, tens, or hundreds column. Students must decide if the number is best placed in the ones, tens, or hundreds column to create a number closest to 500.
- Teacher rolls the die two more times separately. Each time the student must decide if the number should be placed in the ones, tens, or hundreds column.
- Student calculates the difference between the number she created and 500. Student closest to 500 wins the game.
- Students highlight, circle, or check mark the number if it was the closest number to 500. At the end of the game, students with the most check marks wins the game.
Variations
Teacher may choose another number instead of 500 for the game.
Teacher may choose to teach thousand place value and will modify the recorder sheet and the number of rolls.
Place value games are a wonderful activity to help students master numeration skills. Math games allow students to practice mathematical concepts on a continual basis.
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