Strong place value understanding is the foundation for all number operations and decimal comprehension. Many students struggle with decimals because they haven't deeply understood place value. These free resources provide visual, interactive, and concrete approaches to build this foundational understanding.
Place Value & Decimals: Building Number Sense
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Place Value (Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands)
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Khan Academy Place Value Module (Year 2-4)
Free videos explaining ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands. Clear, visual approach with multiple representations (blocks, numerals, words).
2
Mathsisfun Base Ten Blocks Tool
Interactive digital base ten blocks. Students build numbers visually, understanding the value of ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands groupings.
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Decimals (Tenths, Hundredths, Thousandths)
1
Khan Academy Decimals Module (Year 4-6)
Free videos introducing decimals as fractions of tenths and hundredths. Explicit link between decimal and fractional notation.
2
Mathsisfun Decimal Grids & Blocks
Visual 10×10 grids for tenths and hundredths. Students shade areas and see decimal relationships visually before symbolic understanding.
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NRICH Decimal Tasks (Year 4-6 Path)
Free investigation tasks exploring decimal notation, equivalence, and place value. Hands-on, problem-solving approach builds deep understanding.
Tip: Link every decimal lesson back to place value. Students who understand hundreds, tens, ones are better positioned to understand tenths and hundredths.
Place Value & Decimals Strategy
- Build place value foundations using Khan Academy videos + concrete manipulatives
- Use Mathsisfun base ten blocks tool for interactive place value exploration
- Connect decimals explicitly to fractions using grid tools and visual representations
- Incorporate NRICH rich tasks fortnightly for reasoning and problem-solving
- Print NSW Education place value and decimal worksheets weekly for practice
