Lesson 1: Numbers to 10,000 Review

Using the same deck of cards that he used during the previous activity (with the queens and kings removed), tell your child to draw four cards from the deck. Remind him that aces represent ones and jacks represent zeros. For this activity, it's fine if he draws zeros (jacks) and more than one of the same number. Once he has four cards, tell him to use the digits on them to make the greatest and the smallest four-digit numbers that he can. For example, if he draws 5, 3, 0 (jack), and 1, the greatest number he can make is 5,310, and the smallest number he can make is 1,035. If needed, ask, "Why can't you use a zero in the thousands place?" He should note that we don't use zeros in the largest place in a number. You can explain, "Place values go on forever, so if we put zeros in all place values, we'd be writing zeros forever! For an activity like this, we want each card to hold a place value, so we won't use zeros when they're not needed."

Your child will complete the "Greatest and Least Four-Digit Numbers" sheet.

While your child works, write the following numbers on separate index cards: 3,456, 3,564, 3,674, 3,476, 3,574.

Give your child the index cards you prepared during the previous activity. Ask, "What do these numbers have in common?" Your child should note that they all have four digits and all have 3 in the thousands place. Ask, "In each number, what does the digit in the thousands place represent?" (3,000) Now, ask, "If you need to put these numbers in order from least to greatest, what number place should you begin by looking at and why?" (the hundreds place because the numbers have the same thousands) and "What would be the next step?" (looking at the tens place and then the ones place)

Provide time for your child to put the numbers in the correct order: 3,456, 3,476, 3,564, 3,574, 3,674. As he works, make sure that he understands that he should look at the thousands place first, then the hundreds place, then the tens place, and then the ones place, selecting the number that has the larger digit in each place as he goes.

Once he has the numbers in the correct order from least to greatest, point to a pair of numbers that are next to each other (for example, 3,456 and 3,476), and ask, "What is a number that falls between these two numbers?" (answers will vary) Repeat this process with other pairs of the numbers.

Now, provide time for your child to play one or both of the games at the following web links. Both games ask him to place four-digit numbers in order from least to greatest.