Maths Adventures
Zoo maths quest: place value
A story-led junior maths adventure using animal counts, feeding plans and habitat maps to decode big numbers by hundreds, tens and ones.
Quick answer
Place value helps us understand how many hundreds, tens, and ones are in big numbers. You can use animal counts, feeding plans, and habitat maps to explore how numbers work in the zoo.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to split big numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones, and use this to understand how many animals are in each zoo area. Success signs:- You can tell how many hundreds, tens, and ones are in a number like 347
- You can write numbers in expanded form like 300 + 40 + 7
- You can use place value to solve problems about animals in the zoo
- You can explain how place value helps you count big groups of animals
Why this matters
Place value is like a secret code that helps you understand big numbers. When you're at the zoo, you might see 243 penguins or 1,056 butterflies. Knowing how place value works helps you understand how many animals you're looking at. This skill is useful in many places – from reading your phone number to understanding how many people are at a football match. In maths, place value helps you add, subtract, multiply, and divide bigger numbers more easily.How it works
Place value means that each digit in a number has a different value depending on where it is. Think of it like this:- The ones place is the rightmost digit
- The tens place is the second digit from the right
- The hundreds place is the third digit from the right
- 3 is in the hundreds place – that's 300
- 4 is in the tens place – that's 40
- 7 is in the ones place – that's 7
Examples you can see
Let’s imagine you are a zookeeper helping to count animals. Here are some examples of how place value works: Example 1: Counting zebras There are 125 zebras in the zoo.- 1 is in the hundreds place – that's 100 zebras
- 2 is in the tens place – that's 20 zebras
- 5 is in the ones place – that's 5 zebras
- 1 is in the hundreds place – that's 100kg
- 5 is in the tens place – that's 50kg
- 0 is in the ones place – that's 0kg
- 3 is in the hundreds place – that's 300 bricks
- 2 is in the tens place – that's 20 bricks
- 0 is in the ones place – that's 0 bricks
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: Zookeeper's Big Count Challenge You are a new zookeeper and your first job is to count animals in different habitats. Your mission is to use place value to solve the mystery of how many animals are in each area. Step 1: You find a note that says there are 273 monkeys in the primate house.- How many hundreds?
- How many tens?
- How many ones?
- How many hundreds?
- How many tens?
- How many ones?
- How many hundreds?
- How many tens?
- How many ones?
- 273 = ? + ? + ?
- 409 = ? + ? + ?
- 1000 = ? + ? + ?
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking 347 means 3 + 4 + 7 instead of 300 + 40 + 7
Why it happens: Children often think each digit stands alone instead of understanding that its place gives it value.
Fix: Use base-10 blocks or draw groups of 100, 10, and 1 to show how many each digit represents. - Mistake: Forgetting to include zeros in numbers like 105
Why it happens: Zero can be confusing because it seems to "disappear" when writing numbers.
Fix: Remember that 105 means 1 hundred, 0 tens, and 5 ones. Always write all the digits! - Mistake: Confusing the order of digits in a number
Why it happens: Children might read numbers from left to right but forget which place each digit is in.
Fix: Use a place value chart to help organize hundreds, tens, and ones.
Parent and carer guide
As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand place value in fun, everyday ways:- Count together: When you're at the zoo, count animals and talk about how many hundreds, tens, and ones there are
- Use base-10 blocks or coins: Use 100s, 10s, and 1s blocks or play money to build numbers
- Play with numbers: Ask your child to make numbers like 234 using blocks or draw them in expanded form
- Practice daily: Ask questions like "What's 567 in expanded form?" or "How many hundreds are in 802?"
- Don't worry about speed: Understanding place value takes time and practice. Celebrate small steps!
Practice questions
- Write 456 in expanded form
- What number has 2 hundreds, 7 tens, and 3 ones?
- How many hundreds, tens, and ones are in 908?
- Write 1000 in expanded form
- What number is 500 + 30 + 9?
- 400 + 50 + 6
- 273
- 9 hundreds, 0 tens, 8 ones
- 1000 + 0 + 0
- 539
FAQ
What is place value?
Place value is the value of each digit in a number based on where it is. For example, in 347, the 3 is in the hundreds place and means 300.
Why do we need place value?
Place value helps us understand and work with big numbers. It makes it easier to add, subtract, and compare numbers.
How can I practice place value at home?
You can use everyday objects like counters, coins, or even food items to make groups of hundreds, tens, and ones. Try writing numbers in expanded form or building numbers with base-10 blocks.
What happens when there's a zero in a number?
Zero shows there are no tens, hundreds, or ones in that place. For example, in 105, the zero in the tens place means there are no tens.
How can I help my child if they're struggling with place value?
Use hands-on materials like base-10 blocks or drawing groups of 100, 10, and 1. Practice regularly with simple numbers and gradually increase difficulty. Remember that understanding takes time!