Let’s Look at Numbers in Expanded Form!

Teaching kids about numbers in expanded form is a crucial step in their mathematical education. But what is the best way to start this journey with your young mathematicians? 

1. Start with place value – explain that the position of each digit in a number represents a different value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc). 
2. Next, use visual aids to show students this, like MAB blocks – show how each digit has its place. 
3. Once kids understand place value, introduce the concept of expanded form. Explain that expanded form breaks down a number into the sum of its individual place values. Start small – begin two-digit numbers or small three-digit numbers and show a number such as 256 as 200 + 50 + 6.

At this point, this is where these posters are the perfect visual display to add to your maths display board for students to use as a reference as they practice expanding numbers.

Activities to Help Teach Kids about Expanding Numbers

• Place Value Bingo 
• MAB Blocks – use physical base-ten blacks to demonstrate the expansion of numbers.
• Expanded form puzzles – use puzzles with numbers written in standard form and have kids match them with their corresponding expanded form.
• Scavenger Hunt – hide numbers around the classroom; kids need to find them and write down the numbers in expanded form.
• Use a variety of manipulatives like straws and beads to represent numbers in expanded form.
• Use real-life examples, such as how prices in a store can be expressed in an expanded form, such as $100 + $50 + $5.

Download and Display Today!

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the easy-to-print PDF document or the editable Google Slide version of this resource. It’s advised that you print on thick card to ensure the durability of these posters on your classroom maths display boards.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Printable Expanded Form Activities

Needing more activities that are easy to implement in your classroom for your place value lesson planning. We hear you, and we’ve got you covered…

teaching resource

How to Write 2-Digit and 3-Digit Numbers Worksheet

Explore how to represent number values in standard form, word form, expanded form, and picture form with this multipurpose place value worksheet. 

teaching resource

Expanded Notation Dominoes (5-Digit Numbers)

Use this set of dominoes when learning how to match 5-digit numbers written in standard form and expanded form.

teaching resource

Roll It, Make It, Expand It! - Place Value Worksheet

A worksheet for students to use when learning about the place value of two-digit numbers.