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Large Numbers – Place Value -> Awe and Wonder

Posted by Adrian on Mar-27-08
Place Value Charts Every time I invite students to get out a calculator & double numbers until they either become so large they show an ‘E’ on the display or move to scientific notation I’m amazed at the banter/buzz that is produced.

Students love BIG numbers and for me this activity has always produced an excellent opportunity to seize the teachable moment presented. ie you can extend the your students beyond the constraints of syllabus and direct them towards the parts of our existence that inspire ‘awe & wonder’ & raise truly interesting questions. :)

Look, I know that HUGE numbers are outside the possible conceptual understanding of children, but hey… these numbers are so fantastically large I would say that most people cannot truly comprehend their enormity. But why do we shelter children from them? My new place ‘value charts on steroids’ webpage is more about attitude development than complete understanding.

As an aside… my son 9 y/o son has been asking soooooooooo many questions about BIG numbers while I have been putting these resources together. Surely the question raising in itself has to make the place value chart downloads worthwhile. lol

So, feel free to download, print, laminate, display in your windows or at eye level in your class, discuss and explore my new large number place value charts. Who knows, you might even switch a couple of kids onto the Math of the HUGE with the research tasks and bits of trivia I have included.

cheers

Adrian

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Posted under Math
  1. Sushma Said,

    I teach maths in middle school and am recommending them to my students. Thank you. The lesson is excellent.

    India

  2. Rebecca Said,

    Hi Adrian,
    Just a quick note to tell you that the place value charts look FANTASTIC!! I can’t wait to use them with my class – I can definitely foresee some fantastic conversations and investigations developing as a result of your generosity.
    Thanks so much!!
    Kind Regards,
    Rebecca

  3. Carolyn Said,

    Hi Adrian,

    Thanks for the invitation via classblogmeister group to use your place
    value charts. I’ve just been working on place value with my year 3 & 4
    students and your colourful and well designed charts worked well.

    Thanks.

    Carolyn
    New Zealand

  4. Adrian Said,

    Here are a couple of nice videos that use BIG numbers. Nice!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcBV-cXVWFw

    http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/199

    Thanks Adrian G & Bryn

  5. Jill Said,

    I was recommended this by a colleague and have posted a link on our Edline site so the pupils can get to it easily. Thank you!

    Have you heard of the following ‘mathemagicians’? Google their names and ‘mathematics’ and I’m sure you’ll find them. You seem to have a similar enjoyment of real life encounters with mathematics. Andrew Jeffrey (Maths and Magic), Kjartan Poskitt (much more than the Murderous Maths series) and Stephen Froggatt (a bit like the actor Stephen Fry, but with numbers trivia rather than classical trivia).

    All the best from a rock in the mid-Atlantic!

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