Hands-On Expanded Form

Posted by & filed under Balanced Mathematics, Differentiated Instruction, Engaging All Learners, Guided Math Instruction, Manipulatives, Math, Math Activities, Math Games, Math Stations, Number Sense, Small Group Instruction, Small Groups, Tabor Rotation, The Tabor Rotation Framework.

 

expanded notation bag

What is expanded form and how do we make the practice of expanded form hands on and engaging?

Let’s start with the first question.

Expanded Form is…
…the writing of a number to show the value of each digit.
…the sum of each digit multiplied by its place value.
…a helpful way to rewrite numbers in order to show case the place value of each digit.
…method of writing numbers as the sum of powers of ten or as the sum of its units, tens, hundreds, etc.

For example, 3000 + 400 + 10 + 7 is the expanded form for 3417.

But, if you’ve searched for this blog, then you’re really wanting is the answer to the next question.

How do you make expanded form hands on and engaging?

expanded notation directions

The game, “Excellently Expanded,” is hands on, engaging, and deepens a student’s understanding of how to compose and decompose numbers up to 999,999 using expanded form.

place value cards

Each pair of students arranges their expanded form cards so they may easily and quickly create the expanded form of numbers.

number cards

After the leader turns over a number card, pairs of students try to be the first ones to create the expanded form of the number and be able to say what they have created. Whichever pair does this first wins that round and receives 5 points.

Every pair who has correctly created the expanded form of the number earns 2 points. Answer Keys are given to the Leader and Co-Leader.

answer keys

The winning pair turns over the next number and play continues as time allows.

exit questions

Of course, Exit Questions are asked and Passports are used at the end of activity to bridge from the activity content to the way a student will need to answer a high-stakes test question about the concept.

Here are the components for Excellently Expanded:
Excellent Expanded Directions
Excellently Expanded, Examples
Place Value Cards: Excellently Expanded Cards, Ones, Excellently Expanded Cards, Tens, Excellently Expanded Cards, Hundreds, Excellently Expanded Cards, Thousands, Excellently Expanded Cards, Ten Thousands, Excellently Expanded Cards, Hundred Thousands
Number Cards (Answer Keys):Excellently Expanded Answer Key & Numbers, 1, Excellently Expanded Answer Key & Numbers, 2, Excellently Expanded Answer Key & Numbers, 3

Now all you need is a group of students who need to learn expanded notation and want to have fun at the same time…