In this example, the student adds 20,000(hexagons) + 6,000(trapezoids) + 600(rhombuses) + 20(squares) + 2(triangles) which equals 26,622. The students represent the value in standard form (26,622), expanded form and word form.
|
Students design monsters using pattern blocks. Each pattern block is assigned a different place value:
Green Triangles = 1
Orange Squares = 10
Blue Rhombuses = 100
Red Trapezoids = 1,000
Yellow Hexagons = 10,000
Students then determine the value of their designs. Students see that expanded form can help them to determine the total value of their monster.
This activity reinforces for students that multi-digit numbers are made up of smaller values. It's a great way to reinforce place value as each pattern block represents either ones, tens, hundreds, etc.
This activity can be easily differentiated. The values of the pattern blocks could stop at the hundreds place for second grade. The pattern blocks could be valued to the millions for fourth grade. And the pattern blocks could be assigned decimal values in the upper grades. |
