Place Value Mats

About this resource

Looking for place value mats your students can actually use? This set has three full-page place value mats, for 2, 3 and 4 digits, with a base-ten block drawn at the top of every column (cube, rod, flat and thousand cube), big boxes to build the number in, and an equation line and a words line underneath. Then there are 18 more student sheets that use the same mat: count the blocks, draw the blocks, write the number in the mat, break a number into parts, write it in words, find the value of a digit, compare with blocks, put numbers in order, and cut and paste. Every page has a big "My name" line, one short instruction with a small picture, big boxes and room to work. Print and go, or type into the PDF.

EVERYTHING INSIDE (32 pages)

• 3 place value mats: 2 digits (tens, ones), 3 digits (hundreds, tens, ones) and 4 digits (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones). Each has a block picture in every column header, a large work space for real blocks or counters, "how many in each place" boxes, a "write it" equation line and 2 lines to write the number in words
• 1 "Meet the Blocks" page: the four blocks with their values, a worked example of 342 and one to try
• 3 count-the-blocks sheets (2 digits: 6 numbers, 3 digits: 5 numbers, 4 digits: 5 numbers): the blocks are drawn in the columns, students write the number
• 2 draw-the-blocks sheets (2 digits: 5 numbers, 3 digits: 4 numbers): the number is given, students draw it in the columns
• 2 write-in-the-mat sheets (2 digits: 6 numbers, 3 digits: 6 numbers): each digit goes in its own place
• 2 expanded form sheets (3 digits: 6 numbers, 4 digits: 5 numbers)
• 2 number-word sheets: number to words (5 numbers) and words to number (6 numbers)
• 1 value-of-the-underlined-digit sheet (8 digits): students write the place and the value
• 2 compare and order sheets: compare with blocks (3 pairs) and put in order (4 sets of 3)
• 1 place value words page: 12 words to use, an example read aloud and 4 sentence frames
• 3 cut-and-paste sheets (5 pieces each, one straight strip along the bottom): glue the number by its blocks (2 digits), by its blocks (3 digits), and glue the number word by its blocks
• 2 answer-key pages, a tracker with a roll-up graph (17 scored sheets, 85 items), a filled example (an invented student), a family page, a Start Here page and a What's Next page

Three Levels

A small shape in the top corner of each student sheet tells you the level: a circle (5 sheets) is starting, with 2 digits; a square (9 sheets) is building, with 3 digits; a triangle (6 sheets) is ready for more, with 4 digits and number words. The blocks page and the words page carry no level shape.

How To Use It

1. Pick a mat. Print it on cardstock and laminate it for small groups, or print it fresh for each student. Students build the number with their own blocks or counters in the big work space, then fill in the boxes under the columns.

2. Hand over a practice page. One short instruction, one job. Start with count the blocks, move to draw the blocks, then write in the mat, then expanded form and words.

3. Check with the key, write the date and score on the tracker, and color the roll-up column.

Built For The Child Holding The Page

A big "My name" line, big print, one color for each place on every page (hundreds are always blue, tens are always teal), and room to write. Nothing on a student page is written for an adult; the keys, tracker and notes are on separate teacher pages. All numbers and the example student are made up. Every block picture is drawn from its number by one function and counted back, every expanded form adds back to its number, every word form is made by one function and spot-checked, and every answer in the key is worked out from the same numbers as its page.

What This Is, And What It Is Not

Who This Is For

First through third grade teachers, interventionists, special education teachers and families who want ready place value mats plus practice from counting blocks to writing numbers in words.