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Place Value Cups: A Fun Way to Practice Expanded Form in Place Value

Teaching expanded form during your place value unit can be no easy task. One of my student’s favorite activities to reinforce expanded form in place value all year is Place Value Cups. This simple game place value is easy to prep and will keep your kids super engaged.

Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!

 

Setting Up This Game for Place Value

To make them you will need a cup for each value your class is representing. I have several sets made up for 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers. For example, in Texas we teach place value up to 1,200 so I need 4 foam cups. One for the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones place. You’ll also need 4 different colored permanent markers (regular markers will smear).

Make sure you position the opening of the cups in your left hand so you read the numbers from left to right. 

On the first cup (example in picture is starting with the thousands place) write the numbers 0-9 along the rim of the cup. Since we don’t go past 1,200 I just wrote ones all the way around the cup and started with 0-9 on the second cup.

Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
Once you have 0-9 written around the rim of the cups, go back and add zeros BELOW THE RIM and put a plus sign after. The zeros are written below the rim so they do not show when the cups are stacked together.
 
As you can see in the photo below that I added three zeros below the rim for thousands, two zeros below the rim for hundreds, and one zero below the rim for tens. I did not add any zeros for the ones cup. 
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
I also label the bottoms of each cup. When teaching kids to stack their cups I explain how the thousands always go on bottom followed by hundreds, tens, and the ones will always be on top.
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
When the cups are stacked correctly, have them carefully twist the cups to create a number. Make sure they have their numbers lined up correctly. 
 
Once this step is done you can have them do several things. When starting out, I have my students build the number made using place value blocks. Then, count the blocks they built to expand the number on their answer sheet or white board. They pull the cups apart to check their answer.
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
Once you feel like they are starting to master the skill you can have them expand their number without building it first and write it on their recording sheet or whiteboard. Then, carefully pull the cups apart to reveal and check their answer.
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
Here is an example using three digit numbers. Let’s recap.
 
1. Twist the cups to create a number.
2. Write the number created in expanded form on your recording sheet or whiteboard.
3. Carefully pull the cups apart to reveal and check their answer.
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 
Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!

Practice Expanded Form in Place Value 

Want to grab this free recording sheet for this to practice expanded form in place value? All you need to do is fill out the form below. It includes options for 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers. This allows for easy differentiation within your class and you can use them all year long.
 
I recommend using your personal email address rather than your school one. Sometimes school spam filters tend to block these types of emails and I don’t want you to miss out on this free game place value. 
 
Please select what kind of content you would like to receive in the future. We promise not to spam your inbox.
 

Like this idea for expanded form in place value and want to save it for later? Pin the image below and share it with a teacher friend. 

If you are looking for more place value activities , books, manipulatives, and resources, I’ve got you covered. Click here for more place value ideas. 

Place Value Cups is a hands on way to teach and reinforce expanded form in your classroom. This blog post will teach you how to make this game and you can grab a FREE recording sheet too!
 

Do you have a fun idea for teaching expanded form in place value? I’d love for you to join our Saddle Up for 2nd Grade Teachers Facebook group and share it with us.

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