Looking for a place value chart that’s printable? Two versions let your kids work with numbers to the hundred thousands or hundred millions. And while you’re here, pick up some ideas of how to use them!
Posts on this website follow a teaching journey and are written in story form.
Two Place Value Charts – Printable for Your Classroom
Teaching place value for multi-digit numbers? The link to two free printable place value charts can be found at the bottom of this page. Created for fourth grade math students, they offer space for digits to hundred thousands or hundred millions. Above specific place names, you’ll find the names of periods.
Three Ways to Use Place Value Charts
These printable place value charts support third, fourth, or fifth grade students as they learn place value skills.
Building Numbers
The number one challenge when teaching kids to write large numbers is using zero as a place holder. For example, if students hear or see nineteen thousand, six, they may write 196.
To avoid this problem, begin by building numbers. Say:
- Write a nine in the thousands place.
- Place a six in the ones place.
- Put a one in the ten thousands place.
- Now add zero as a place holder to find the number.
Eureka! 19,006.
Not surprisingly, students need a lot of practice with this. So use all of the spaces on the printable place value chart for this activity.
Writing Big Numbers
Once kids know how to build big numbers, use the place value chart for writing them. Now you can simply say nineteen thousand, six, and expect them to write 19,006.
Your students can practice with you reading orally – or by looking at the numbers written in words.
Beginning Expanded Form
As kids learn about expanded form (or for remediation), ask them to write the standard form number in the first row. Then, one-by-one, they will drop non-zero digits straight down and add zeros after it. When they’re done, they’ll have the numbers they need for expanded form. This practice avoids the common mistake of keeping digits together – particularly for one-word numbers like seventeen.
Here’s an example:
- Common Error: 10,917 = 10,000 + 900 + 17
- Using the Chart: 10,917 = 10,000 + 900 + 10 + 7
Moving Away from the Place Value Chart Printable
Sure, these handy organizers scaffold kids to success. But as soon as they get the idea, you should move away from the place value charts. They’re only meant to be used as a tools when beginning each new place value skill. Enjoy!