Building Numbers: Hundreds, Tens, and Ones
Shared by A STEM Educator
Students will understand that the three digits of a three-digit number represent amounts of hundreds, tens, and ones (2.NBT.A.1), and will compose and decompose three-digit numbers using place value understanding.
Lesson Overview
Students progress from identifying single-digit place value positions to composing and decomposing three-digit numbers using a real-world context of counting items in a school supply store. Tasks are thin-sliced so only one variable changes at a time, building toward flexible representation of three-digit numbers.
Materials
- Vertical whiteboards or chart paper
- Dry-erase markers (multiple colors)
- Base-ten blocks (hundreds flats, tens rods, ones cubes)
- Place value mats (hundreds | tens | ones)
- Random grouping cards
- Mini whiteboards and markers for warm-up
- Exit slip papers
Scaffolded Task Progression
🟦🟦🟦 (ones cubes)
How many ones are there? Write the number.
[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]
🟧🟧 (tens rods)
How many tens are there? How many pencils is that in all? Write the number.
[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]
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