5 Fun Ways to Teach Tens and Ones in First Grade Without the Stress
Teacher confession time. . . . teaching tens and ones used to cause me so much stress! In the early years of my career, I struggled to help my students understand this concept in a meaningful way. Can you relate?! But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming for you or your students. If you’re looking for engaging, hands-on, and low-prep ways to introduce tens and ones, you’re in the right place! In this post, I’ll walk you through my tried and true approach to teaching place value in a way that sticks.
Why Teaching Tens and Ones Matters
Teaching place value is one of those “big deal” math milestones in first grade, and for good reason! Understanding tens and ones lays the groundwork for almost everything that follows in early math. Without a strong grasp of how numbers are built using groups of ten, students may struggle with addition, subtraction, regrouping, and even understanding larger numbers.
Tens and ones can cause a lot of confusion in the classroom! While the concept seems simple to us as adults, it can be tricky for first graders to wrap their heads around the idea that 10 ones is the same as 1 ten. Many students try to memorize number patterns without truly understanding what the digits mean. That’s why it’s essential to teach this concept in a hands-on, visual, and engaging way from the start. This way, students can see the math and build a solid understanding that will carry them forward with confidence.
1. Build Tens and Ones With Manipulatives
Manipulatives and hands-on tools give abstract concepts a concrete visual. Students can literally see what 10 ones bundled together looks like compared to a group of ten. If you’re looking for a simple way to facilitate the concept of tens and ones in your classroom, start with an activity like this:
- Use base ten blocks (or linking cubes, craft sticks, or even bundles of straws).
- Model how numbers can be broken down and built using tens and ones.
- Ask students to try to build numbers using tens and ones on their own.
- Finish by having them write the matching numeral.
If your kids need more visual support beyond your modeling, try a fun educational video like this one. It’s got plenty of examples to help this concept stick! You might also consider laminating a place value mat with a “tens” column and a “ones” column for each child to use over and over again. Having this to use alongside the manipulatives of your choice provides even more support to master this concept. It also helps with organizing and transferring visual info onto paper later.
2. Tens and Ones Songs & Videos
Beyond the educational teaching videos, there are so many other great resources out there to help kids grasp tens and ones. Songs are one of my favorites! Why? Songs get stuck in little brains, in the best way! Use music and movement to reinforce the concepts you’re teaching.
Try this Place Value Song this get started! I bet you’ll love anything by Jack Hartmann in your classroom because his songs are so upbeat and catchy. Before you know it, your kids will be dancing and singing along. You can even add hand motions for tens (hold up 10 fingers) and ones (tap one finger) as you sing. Make sure to peek around on YouTube for more, as there is no shortage of fun, free songs you can use in your classroom to teach this concept.
3. Task Card Scoot Games for Teaching Tens and Ones
It’s no surprise that children LOVE to play games. So why not bring them into your room as you’re teaching tens and ones? Scoot games are a fantastic way to keep your students moving and thinking at the same time. Set up place value task cards around the room with numbers to build, or visuals that show tens and ones. Give each student an answer sheet and a clipboard, then have them “scoot” from card to card. As they go, they will write their responses and build fluency with place value in a fun, active format. Add a timer to make it even more fun and let the kids know when it’s time to Scoot!
Try this labor-saving resource to give this a go in your room! It includes 30 printable card pairs (color + B&W) and 30 digital Google Slides. The flexibility of both print and digital options is perfect for in-person or virtual classrooms. Students identify tens and ones, count base ten blocks, or draw them to match the number shown. Answer sheets and keys are included, along with clear scoot directions. It’s a reliable, engaging way to reinforce place value, and kids LOVE the movement!
4. Visual Anchor Charts & Class Discussions
Kids need to see the big picture! Anchor charts give your students a visual to refer to and double as a great teaching tool. Not to mention, they become a great way to facilitate classroom discussion with your whole group or small group! If you’re not already using these to help your teaching stick, I highly recommend giving it a go. You can find 5 wonderful pre-made anchor charts in this resource to help get you started. Use these for students to follow along with and project the page up on a piece of chart paper to trace and make a larger version. There are many times of day that you can weave these into your classroom routine. Give these a try:
Morning Meeting Math Chat
Start your day with a quick math warm-up! Use your place value anchor chart during morning meeting to model the “Number of the Day.” Write the number on the board, then break it apart using tens and ones with the help of your anchor chart. Ask students questions like, “How many tens? How many ones? Can we build this with base ten blocks?”
Math Mini-Lessons
Keep your place value anchor chart front and center during your whole group math lesson. As you introduce a new concept or skill (like comparing numbers or adding with regrouping), refer back to the chart. Add to it as your students learn, making it a living document that grows with them.
Independent Work Stations
Post mini anchor charts at math centers or table groups. These can be simplified versions of your main anchor chart and serve as visual references during independent practice, games, or hands-on activities, perfect for reinforcing vocabulary and concepts without direct instruction.
Early Finisher Tasks
Keep a few anchor charts near your fast finisher bins or early finisher station. Pair them with quick review activities like “write your own number and break it into tens and ones,” or “draw your own place value blocks to match the chart.” This encourages purposeful practice.
End-of-Day Review
Right before dismissal, do a quick recap! Ask a student to choose a number and challenge the class to represent it using the anchor chart as a reference. It’s a great way to squeeze in just a few more minutes of learning and reinforce the day’s math focus before heading out.
5. No-Prep Practice Pages That Make Your Life Easier
After all the hands-on fun, students need a way to continue to practice and apply what they’ve learned to build independence. No-prep worksheets are perfect for reinforcing skills during centers, morning work, or assessments. Plus, they’re easy to weave into your way and help you squeeze in a bit more practice without spending hours on prep! If that sounds like a dream come true, make sure to check out these no-prep practice pages. Inside, you’ll find:
- Tens and ones matching activities
- Expanded form practice
- Cut-and-paste build-a-number tasks
- Color by code sheets for extra fun
- Student anchor charts to cement new concepts
There are 40 total pages included, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from! They’re great for classwork, homework, small groups, or even sub plans! And best of all? Best of all? No prep required.
Make Place Value Fun and Stress-Free!
Teaching tens and ones doesn’t have to mean hours of prep or dry math lessons. With just a few simple tools such as base ten blocks, games, songs, and some handy no-prep worksheets, you can build a solid place value foundation that your students will carry with them all year long! Oh, and you’ll have lots of fun along the way! Make sure to click the covers below to take a closer look at the resources mentioned here, as well as many other amazing place value resources.
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