Understanding that each place value gets 10 times bigger as we move a number one place value to the left is a major concept for 4th grade students. Let’s Explore how we can make that concept visual for students by using Base 10 Blocks.
Tell students that you will be asking them a series of questions. When you ask the question, students should represent the answer with Base 10 blocks and you should write the number in a Place Value Chart for students to see.
Ask students to represent the number 3.
Ask, what is 10 times bigger than 3? Discuss how we would need 10 of each Unit Cube. Therefore, 3 Rods or 30 is 10 times bigger than 3. Have students trade 3 cubes for 3 rods.
Ask, what is 10 times bigger than 30? Discuss how we would need 10 of each Rod. Therefore, 3 Flats or 300 is 10 times bigger than 30.
Ask, what is 10 times bigger than 300? Discuss how we would need 10 of each Flat. Therefore, 3 Cubes or 3,000 is 10 times bigger than 300.
Depending on your class, you may want to go through the same questions again with a different number. Once students have explored this concept with the blocks and place value chart, ask students, what do you notice?
What do you notice?- Students may notice:
- Each time you asked them to multiply the answer by 10.
- Each time you multiplied by 10 the 3 moved to the left and you added a zero.
- Each time you multiplied by 10 the number got bigger.
All of these notices are essential for their understanding.