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Place Value Detectives

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Heidi Gross

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Place Value Detectives Lesson Plan

Students will analyze multi-digit numbers to identify the value of each digit and explain how each place is 10 times greater than the one to its right and 1/10 the one to its left. Success criteria: correctly identify digit values in given numbers and articulate place-value relationships.

Mastering place value underpins all work with large numbers and decimals. This lesson builds fluency in 5.NBT.1, enabling students to confidently reason about digit value and scale.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Students analyze digit values via detective role-play and number cards.

Materials

  • Detective Badge Templates, - Multi-Digit Number Cards, - Detective Journals, and - Place Value Reference Chart

Prep

Print and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print copies of Detective Badge Templates, Multi-Digit Number Cards, and Detective Journals.
  • Prepare and display the Place Value Reference Chart poster in front of the room.
  • Review the Place Value Detectives Lesson Plan and all linked materials to ensure familiarity.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Engage students by asking: “What does each digit in a number represent?”
  • Display the Place Value Reference Chart and model explaining the value of each digit in a 4-digit number (e.g., 3,482).
  • Present the success criteria: identify digit values and explain place relationships using “10× greater” and “1/10”.

Step 2

Detective Challenge

10 minutes

  • Give each student a Detective Badge and a copy of the Detective Journals.
  • Distribute one Multi-Digit Number Card per student (or pair).
  • Students record their number in the journal, list each digit’s value, and write how each place relates (10× or 1/10).
  • Circulate and prompt with questions: “How is the hundreds place related to the tens place?”

Step 3

Share Findings

8 minutes

  • Invite several students to present their number analysis and explanations to the class.
  • Highlight examples that meet the success criteria and clarify misconceptions.
  • Reinforce correct mathematical language and place-value reasoning.

Step 4

Exit Ticket

7 minutes

  • Provide each student a new number to analyze in their Detective Journals.
  • Students complete: identify digit values and write two sentences explaining the relationship between places.
  • Collect journals to assess mastery of 5.NBT.1.
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Slide Deck

Place Value Detectives

Put on your detective badge and get ready to investigate numbers! Today, you’re on a mission to discover what each digit really means.

Welcome students as Place Value Detectives! Build excitement by showing the detective badge and explaining today’s mission: uncover the hidden value of each digit in a number.

Lesson Objective & Success Criteria

Objective:
• Analyze multi-digit numbers to identify each digit’s value.

Success Criteria:
• I can name the value of each digit (e.g., 4 → 400).
• I can explain that each place is 10× greater than the one to its right and 1/10 the one to its left.

Introduce the learning goal and success criteria so students know exactly what they need to do to “solve the case.”

Place Value Reference Chart

Millions | Hundred-Thousands | Ten-Thousands | Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones

… 10× → … 1/10 ← …

Use this chart to determine digit value and compare places.

Display the large Place Value Reference Chart (#place-value-reference-chart) you prepared. Point to each column and review the place names.

Example Investigation

Number: 3,482
• 3 in the thousands place → 3,000
• 4 in the hundreds place → 400
• 8 in the tens place → 80
• 2 in the ones place → 2

Relationships:
• 3,000 is 10× 300; 300 is 10× 30; 30 is 10× 3.
• 400 is 1/10 of 4,000; 80 is 1/10 of 800.

Model with a think-aloud on the board. Walk through each digit of 3,482, naming its value and relating places.

Detective Challenge

  1. Put on your Detective Badge.
  2. Take one Multi-Digit Number Card.
  3. In your Detective Journal:
    • Record your number.
    • List each digit’s value.
    • Write how each place relates (10× or 1/10).

You have 10 minutes to complete your analysis.

Distribute Detective Badges (#detective-badge-templates), Multi-Digit Number Cards (#multi-digit-number-cards), and Detective Journals (#detective-journals). Circulate and support.

Share Your Findings

• Who would like to present?
• Show your number and tell us each digit’s value.
• Explain the 10× and 1/10 relationships you discovered.

Invite 3–4 students to share their detective work. Encourage use of precise language (“10× greater,” “1/10 smaller”).

Exit Ticket

Analyze this number: __________

  1. List each digit’s value.
  2. Write two sentences explaining the relationship between places using “10× greater” and “1/10 the size.”

Turn in your Detective Journal when you’re done.

Hand out new numbers or write them on the board. Collect journals after students finish.

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