Kindergarten place value: tens and ones with blocks
Before children meet hundreds, they need a solid feel for tens and ones. Kindergarten place value is less about writing columns and more about seeing that ten ones can be traded for one ten, and that the left digit in a two-digit number counts those tens.
Start with ten-frames
A ten-frame is a 2 × 5 grid. Fill it with counters for numbers up to 10. When the frame is full, say "one ten" and start a new frame. Fourteen is one full frame and four more: one ten and four ones.
- Ask "How many more to make ten?" before filling the rest of the frame.
- Snap a photo of a filled frame, hide it, and ask the child to rebuild it from memory.
- Move to two frames only after one frame feels automatic.
Bundle real objects
Bundle straws, sticks or linking cubes into tens with rubber bands. Make 23 as two bundles and three loose sticks. Unbundle one ten and recount as 13 ones plus the remaining ten to show that the total did not change.
Say the number two ways
For 35, practise both "thirty-five" and "three tens and five ones". The second phrasing is the bridge into written place value later.
Keep sessions under ten minutes. Accurate counting of small collections beats racing to bigger numbers.
Open the Number Blocks Tool with 23 and look at the tens and ones rows together. Open the tool with 23
Quick kindergarten checks
Answer out loud, then build with blocks or a ten-frame.
- How many tens and ones in 14?
- Make 10 with two numbers. Name one pair.
- Which is more, 9 or 11? How do you know?
- What number is 2 tens and 6 ones?
Show answers
- 1 ten and 4 ones.
- Examples: 7 + 3, 6 + 4, 5 + 5.
- 11: it has one ten and 9 has none.
- 26.