Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
A digit is worth ten times the place to its right
Number sense
CCSS 4.NBT.A.1England: Y5 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: A digit is worth ten times the place to its right.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Place value names up to hundred thousands
Leads to: Multiply whole numbers by 10, 100 and 1000
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Place value names up to hundred thousands). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In 294 710, which place is the digit 4 in? (hundreds / hundred thousands / ones / thousands) → thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- What is the value of the digit 3 in 701 638? → 30Prompt: Name the place of the digit first.
- In 890 146, which place is the digit 8 in? (thousands / ones / hundred thousands / tens) → hundred thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: A digit is worth ten times the place to its right. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: The value of 8 in 8000 is how many times the value of 8 in 800?
- Step 1: 8000 ÷ 800
- Step 2: 10
- Answer: 10
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- The value of 2 in 200 is how many times the value of 2 in 20? → 10Prompt: Each place to the left is worth ten times as much.
- How many tens are there in 120 altogether? → 12Prompt: Count every 10 in the number, not just one digit.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- How many tens are there in 1420 altogether? → 142Prompt: Count every 10 in the number, not just one digit.
- What number is 40 hundreds? → 4000Prompt: One hundred is 100.
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Place value names up to hundred thousands.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Multiply whole numbers by 10, 100 and 1000.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder