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Place Value creates some difficulty for a lot of learners
as they struggle to understand the why and how of zero being a place holder.
The zero is used to HOLD THE PLACE that is to indicate the position of a
number as we read a particular numeral.
For example: 4 in 400.
Use any of the following
simple apparatus to develop a lesson plan: |
- Play money, home made card coins
- Beads, pebbles, stones, bottle tops
- Dienes' cubes, cuisennaire rods
- Abacus, colour factor
- Counters, matchsticks
 Play
Money
Buying, giving change, costing, addition and subtraction - many basic operations
can be performed in the context of money, the commonest of experiences for
most learners. Use the coins and notes for creating a shopping corner. |
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Matchsticks
Use them to make bundles to represent numbers or as open ended investigations.
Find the minimum number of matchsticks to make 5 squares, joined together. |
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Number
Cards and Spinners
These cards and spinners are used at an appropriate level to demonstrate
the value of zero as a place holder and the changing value of a digit in
accordance with its position. |
Learners develop confidence when:
- The context being used is familiar to every day life
- They are involved in constructing their own knowledge which
is being built upon their previous experience
Important elements of a place value lesson:
- Understanding of Zero: The Hindu-Arabic Numeration - how it
changed the lives of humanity.
- Number work without Zero - as in Roman, Egyptian, Mayan cultures.
- Vocabulary for Place Value: 1c, 10c, 100c - words such as units, tens, hundreds, tenths, hundredths - exchanging
100 cents for 1 Rand etc.
- Illustrate clear meaning of ZERO - its meaning and function.
- Recognition of number position as well as the meaning behind
that position and how the meaning changes as the position changes.
- Provide experiences in a variety of measuring situations such
as - length, weight, height, money etc
- Extend the work into capacity - measuring liquids etc.
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