Need a printable place value chart for your students?
Way to be on top of things!
A good understanding of place value is foundational to future math skills – understanding larger numbers…and smaller numbers!
Using these resources will help kids develop number sense as they are able to better visualize the abstract concepts of a large number like 4,534, as well as decimal numbers like 1.32.
In this post, you will find 6 charts that cover the concepts of two-digit numbers, three-digit numbers, four-digit numbers, one decimal place, and two decimal places.
At the bottom of this post, you will find simple instructions to download your place value worksheets.
I have used several place value chart variations with my own kids through the years.
Even when it was from a reputable curriculum company, I couldn’t find a chart that allowed my child to write the whole numbers they were building on the actual chart.
I always had to grab a mini whiteboard, piece of scratch paper, etc. for my kid to write what was in each column. When they wrote the number is when the lightbulb seemed to go off for them. They saw the connection between the blocks and the numbers they’d been counting since kindergarten.
For that reason, the below place value activities do have a place to write the number below each column. If you slide these blank charts into a good sheet protector and use dry erase markers, your kid will be able to build all kinds of numbers and write them as they go.
This small change makes all the difference for my own kids to really grasp these foundational math concepts.
This first chart is for 2-digit numbers and includes space for the tens place and ones place.
Print this out and place it snugly in a sheet protector. Break out your dry-erase marker and get started learning the place value system!
Using base 10 blocks, start having your child add 1 block at a time to the ones section.
Once they get to 10, tell the child that 10 is too many blocks to have in the ones place. They now need to move to the tens place. Place the 10 unit blocks in the tens place, and show the child how they can be replaced with a “10 stick” from the base 10 blocks.
How many 10 sticks do you have now? 1
How many blocks are in the ones place? 0
Have your child write those numbers below the ones column and the tens column. They should quickly recognize that makes the number 10!
Continue through the process of adding one block at a time until getting 20 or higher.
Once your student has mastered the concept of a 2 digit number, they will be ready to move on to the three-digit numbers.
This second chart will help your student understand, build, and write numbers to the hundreds place.
Have your child build the number 95 on the chart. Then have them add blocks one at a time until they have the number 100.
Continue to challenge the student by telling them to build different numbers on the chart, such as 137, 250, or 376.
Make sure the child continues to write the numbers on the lines below each place value column. This will help them to understand and see the different digit values.
2nd grade and 3rd grade students will be ready to move onto this thousands chart to work on large numbers like 4,537.
Initially, these may feel like gigantic numbers, but students will quickly see that it is just one more step in the number system.
Show students that once they have 999 on their printable chart, the next block will cause all the 9s to “spill over” to the thousands place. They will then have 1 thousand, 0 hundreds, 0 tens, and 0 ones.
This visual representation helps so much with understanding the value of a digit and writing numbers correctly.
This is another thousands chart. Its purpose is to help kids remember and visualize which place value manipulative goes in which column.
This is particularly helpful if your blocks don’t fit nicely on this sheet. You can still spread out your blocks, and see clearly which column they should be in.
By 4th grade, students have usually mastered whole numbers and are ready to move onto a decimal place value chart.
I love this free place value chart because it helps kids to really see what that decimal actually means.
Tell the student that the decimal point serves to separate whole numbers from pieces of (or fractions of) the number one.
Using a dry-erase marker, have the student write a whole number (1-9) in the box to the left of the decimal point.
To the right of the decimal point have the student write a number from 1-9 again. Have the student shade in the number of bars to represent what the number actually looks like.
There is also space for the student to write the mixed fraction, and plot the numbers of tenths on a number line.
As an option, you can also have the student write out the word form for each of the individual numbers they’re writing.
This blank place value chart is an easy way of showing kids what two decimal places actually represent.
Again, have your student fill in the boxes with the number 1.32. Tell them that this means 1 whole, 3 tenths, and 2 hundredths.
But what does that actually mean?
First, have the student fill in the mixed fraction boxes with 1 3/10 2/100. Then have them shade in the entire first 100 grid to represent the whole number 1. Then have them shade in 3 bars (for a total of 30 squares) in the next grid. In the last box, have the student shade in just 2 blocks.
This visual will show your child what those decimal places actually mean.
It will go from abstract to concrete in seconds.
You could use these charts in many different ways, but I just have a couple more suggestions to help you get the most out of these printables.
Have the student build a three-digit number on the hundreds chart, and then have them write the correct numbers below as done before. Next, have the child erase the numbers and write what each of the whole number place values actually represents.
For example, if your student built 543, they would write 500, 40, and 3 in the columns. Have them write plus signs between the column and show them how those numbers are added together to make 543.
A place value chart is a great way to teach young children how to quickly add and subtract tens.
Using a tens chart, have the student build a two-digit number, such as 64, and write the number on the lines below.
Then tell the student that we need to add 10. Show the student how easy it is to just add a rod to the tens column. Have the student erase the 64 and write 74. Repeat this several times until the child understands it and then introduce subtracting ten.
As the student progresses, take it further by adding and subtraction with larger multiples of tens.
I love my place value blocks and use them almost daily with my kids, but they came from a pretty expensive math curriculum. There are other very similar versions out there that cost much less and do the same thing.
This block set from Simply Magic is a great, very affordable option. It comes with 100 small cubes, 20 ten sticks or rods, 10 hundred flats, and 1 large cube that represents 1,000.
They are all different colors for kids to easily see what belongs in each column. This is a great investment in helping your child grow in their place value skills.
The above text link will take you to a new window with the worksheets in pdf format. You can download and print from there. No email address or other personal information is required.
Terms of Use: These printable charts are for homeschool, classroom, co-op, and personal use only. None of The Simple Homeschooler printables are to be used for commercial use. Thank you!
I personally love teaching place value and I know these charts are going to be such a great resource to you as you work through multi-digit numbers and decimal places.
Consider printing them on card stock to help them last longer and keep them in a quality sheet protector for multiple uses.
When your lesson plans are done, be sure to keep those charts where you can grab them quickly for future math lessons. I find that place value comes up again and again as kids learn to add and subtract, compare numbers, etc.
A quick refresher and visual can be so helpful to keep your kid going strong!
If you are interested in grabbing another free resource, check out the Activities & Printables section of this blog or check out the image link below!
Hello! My name is Lauren and welcome to my blog! I am the wife of an amazing husband and we have 3 sweet girls. I never, ever saw myself becoming a homeschooler, but our family has been so blessed by the choice to school at home. I am passionate about helping you get on your feet with your homeschool and encouraging you on your journey!
