Place value - Numbers to 1,000 - Planning

In Year 3, children delve into the world of numbers up to 1,000, focusing on place value during their autumn term. The lesson starts with a review of counting in multiples of 1, 10, and 100, emphasizing the patterns and changes within the sequence. The core of the lesson is to enable children to represent any number up to 1,000 using a variety of concrete resources, with a particular emphasis on Base 10. Through hands-on activities, they become familiar with the physical size difference between hundreds, tens, and ones, and explore how ten tens make a hundred and ten ones make a ten. This visual and tactile approach helps them to grasp the concept of number value and the importance of a digit's position within a number. The children are also encouraged to consider the effect of zeros in different columns by comparing numbers such as 27, 270, and 207, discussing the similarities and differences.

Building on this foundational understanding, the lesson provides opportunities for practical application. Children physically construct three-digit numbers, learning about the conservation of number and the value of structured representation. They are challenged to represent numbers without certain manipulatives, fostering a deeper understanding of place value. To support their learning, they use stem sentences to articulate the composition of numbers, enhancing their verbal reasoning skills. The lesson also introduces pictorial representation with Base 10 drawings and place value counters, and even incorporates coins to relate the concept to real-life contexts. As the lesson concludes, children reflect on what they've learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging, ensuring they solidify their understanding of place value and the representation of numbers to 1,000 in various forms.