Welcome to the Breaking Down the Standards Series. In this post, we will cover How to Teach First Grade Place Value to 120. We’ll use base ten blocks and digits to model and represent numbers respectively. You’ll get the skinny on the TEKS and Common Core Standards, which are the stepping-stones to effective math lessons.

1. First Grade Place Value Standards:

To see the First Grade Place Value Standards for the Common Core and the TEKS, click the image above.

2. The Vertical Alignment for First Grade Place Value

Vertical Alignment for First Grade Place Value is so important when planning your lessons. We need to examine not only the first-grade standards, but also Kindergarten and 2nd grade standards as well. You need to know what your students should already know and also what they should know when their first-grade year is over. Vertical alignment looks at the Kindergarten Standards as well as the Second Grade Standards and sets you and your students up for SUCCESS! Click the image above to see the Vertical Alignment.

Kindergarten: Up to 20

• Compose and decompose numbers through 20 using tens and ones. 
• Count forwards and backwards within 20. 
• Subitize – recognize instantly the quantity of a small group of objects in organized and random arrangements
• Generate a number one more / one less to 20. 
• Compare sets up to 20 and use comparative language.

1st Grade: From 20 to 120
Need to Learn: See #3 – The Breakdown

2nd Grade:  From 120 to 1,200

• Understand that 3-digit numbers represent hundreds, tens and ones. 
• Cout within 1,000. 
• Skip-count by 5s, 10s and 100s to 1,000. 
• Read and write numbers to 1,000 / 1,200 using base ten, standard form, written form and expanded form. 
• Compare three-digit numbers using <, >, =. 
• Compose and decompose numbers to 1,200. 
• Compare and order numbers to 1,200.
• Locate and name the position of a given 3-digit whole number on an open number line.
  

 

3. The Breakdown: First Grade Place Value to 120

When examining the standards to create the most productive and engaging lessons, keep your eye on the verbs. I’ve highlighted them in red. The verbs tell what your students will be doing to learn the standards.

When first graders leave first grade, they should be able to: (focus on the verbs in red)

• Add within 100 without regrouping
• Subtract multiples of 10 in the range 10-90 Example:  50 – 10 = 40
• Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones
• Recognize instantly the quantity of structured arrangements (Subatizing)
• Use concrete and pictorial models to compose and decompose numbers up to 120 in more than one way as so many hundreds, so many tens, and so many ones
• Use objects, pictures, and expanded and standard forms to represent numbers up to 120
• Generate a number that is greater than or less than a given whole number up to 120
• Use place value to compare whole numbers up to 120 using comparative language
• Order whole numbers up to 120 using place value and open number lines
• Represent the comparison of two numbers to 100 using the symbols >, <, = or Compare two two-digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits, recording the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, and <.

First Grade Place Value Recommended Progression:

Place Value to:

• 20 (l to 2 days or as needed)
• 50 (2 to 3 days or as needed)
• 100 (1 Week or more as needed)
• 120 (2 weeks or more as needed)

Each day, work on the following:

• Composing and Decomposing using manipulatives
• Ordering Number using a number line
• Comparing using <, >, =
• Generating numbers more and less than a given number
• Generate a number 10 more and 10 less than a given number to 120
• Subatize using base ten, ten frames, random items, etc.

 

 

Let’s Get Started

Introduce Place Value with a Place Value Chart and Base Ten Blocks. Here are some FREE Base Ten Posters to help you out.  

Place Value Manipulatives – The words “Using Objects“ is used over and over in the standards when the focus is on place value. Make sure you have some kind of manipulatives for your student to use as they represent numbers to 120. 

My Favorite Manipulatives: 

• Base Ten Blocks
• Magnetic Base Ten Blocks
• Place Value Flip Chart
• 100 / 120 Chart (I like to keep a pile of small 120 Charts that kids can use, mark up and then throw away.)  Grab yours here.  

Favorite Place Value Helpers

Ahead of time, place one flat, 10 longs, and 10 units in a baggie, ready to pass out to students. These will be used to model numbers to 120.

4. Mini Lesson – Introduce First Grade Place Value

Print the number cards ahead of time. Pass out base ten blocks to students. Partner students if you don’t have enough or use digital version. 

 

Mini Lesson Idea:

Use the number cards and base ten blocks to complete 4 different mini lessons.  

1. 10 to 20 (11, 14, 17 and 20 – students will also be asked if the number is odd or even one each card in this set.)
2. 20 to 50 (23, 34, 41, 48)
3. 50 to 100 (55, 64, 79, 91)
4. 100 to 120 (101, 108, 114, 118)

 

 

5.  First Grade Place Value Practice

For your 1st graders to master the Common Core and TEKS Standards for place value, they will need plenty of practice.

This includes:

• Standard Form
• Written Form
• Expanded Form
• Use manipulatives to represent number to 120
• Composing and decomposing numbers to 120

This can be done in a systematic way by using the graphic organizer provided. Click the image below to grab the FREEBIE.

Introducing the Hundreds Place

Once students begin working with numbers greater than 99, many students need extra practice understanding what the hundreds digit actually represents. Introducing numbers 100 to 120 gives students opportunities to explore how the hundreds place changes while continuing to build number sense with tens and ones.

Using base ten blocks, expanded form, standard form, written form, and number patterns together helps students better understand how numbers are composed and represented. Students also begin noticing important number relationships as they count, compare numbers, and explore patterns within the 100 and 120 chart.

These place value task cards and worksheets give students repeated practice with numbers 100 to 120 through hands-on activities, matching activities, worksheets, and independent practice options that work well during guided math groups, math centers, intervention, and review.

 

 

6. Teacher-Led Small Group Instruction

Small group instruction is the perfect time to help students build a strong understanding of place value. As students use base ten blocks to represent numbers in different ways, they begin to understand how numbers can be composed, decomposed, and regrouped. These hands-on conversations during guided math lessons help build a foundation for addition and subtraction with regrouping later on.

As students build a stronger understanding of place value, they also begin noticing number patterns and relationships within the 100 and 120 chart. Practicing skills like 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less helps students develop number sense while strengthening their understanding of how numbers change.

These guided math lesson plans are designed for teacher-led small group instruction and give students hands-on practice with important place value and number pattern skills in a manageable small group setting.

 

 

 

Visual Teaching Support

Many students need to SEE place value concepts modeled multiple times before the ideas fully click. Using visual demonstrations alongside hands-on practice helps students better understand how numbers are built and represented.

This base ten blocks teaching video helps students visualize how a hundred is composed using tens and ones while strengthening place value understanding in a simple and engaging way. It works well for whole group instruction, small group lessons, math intervention, or review.

 

Not every class thrives with high-energy math centers. Sometimes students simply need structured, meaningful practice they can complete independently or with a partner. Task cards and worksheets are a great way to reinforce place value skills while keeping math centers calm, focused, and easy to manage.

These place value task cards and worksheets give students repeated practice with hundreds, tens, and ones while helping teachers quickly check for understanding during centers, intervention, morning work, or independent practice.

Interactive Math Games

Some classes LOVE interactive math centers and learn best through hands-on games and partner activities. Place value games give students opportunities to practice important math skills while staying actively engaged in the learning process.

These place value games help students practice base ten concepts, expanded form, written form, and number relationships in a fun and meaningful way during math centers, partner work, and small group review.

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Digital Place Value Activities

Digital place value activities are a great way to give students extra practice with numbers 100 to 120 while keeping students actively engaged during math centers, small groups, intervention, or independent work. Many students enjoy practicing place value skills in a digital format, especially when activities include visual supports and immediate feedback.

Digital activities also make it easier to differentiate instruction and provide additional place value practice without adding extra prep to your math block. Students can practice important skills like hundreds tens and ones, expanded form, comparing numbers, number patterns, and numbers to 120 in an interactive and engaging way.

These digital place value activities give students opportunities to practice important first grade math skills while helping teachers easily incorporate technology into math instruction.

 

7. The Learning Centers: First Grade Place Value

What kid doesn’t like Superheroes? These Superhero Task Cards cover a ton of skills, some with base ten and some with other types of representations. Tally Marks, Ten Frames, etc. Check out the video to see some of the cards in the set.  

     

Here’s How to Use the Task Cards:

Students will grab a recording sheet. They will color in the box once they have completed a card. Students will write the answer in their math notebook and show their work.  Teacher can spot check the notebook of students who might not stay on task.

 

Keep Practicing Place Value 

As you work through the place value unit, you’ll want to keep practicing. 

Here are some great resources for learning centers from my friend Carol (The Chocolate Teacher) 

    

8. The Fun: Scoot and Sort – First Grade Place Value / Odd and Even Numbers

Need a fun activity to keep your students engaged? Scoot activities are always a big hit with first graders! With this resource, your students will scoot around your classroom gathering the answers for their recording sheet. Once they’ve recorded all of the answers, they will sort the two-digit answers into two groups: odd and even. It’s HALF PRICE for a limited time.

 

Don’t forget to pin the image below to your Teaching Resources board for future use.

  

 

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AND Grab these Free First Grade Place Value Worksheets!

 

Thank you for stopping by!
-Carrie Lutz

 

Disclosure: Carrie Lutz is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a small commission on products purchased through Amazon.com and other affiliated websites. You do not pay more when purchasing products through these links.