Reading and Writing Large Numbers

Purpose

To build fluency reading and writing large numbers

Materials

whiteboard and marker or paper and pencil (for individual students)

Overview

Write 5 different numbers between 1 thousand and 10 billion on the board. Remind students that these numbers have as few as 4 and not more than 10 digits. As a class, read the 5 different numbers on the board. Then, students work in pairs and each person writes down three numbers between 1 thousand and 10 billion. Students then switch papers and take turns reading the numbers aloud and checking each other.

About the sequence

Part 1 invites the class to read 5 different numbers on board that range between 1 thousand and 1 billion. Part 2 asks each person to write three different numbers between 1 thousand and 1 billion that their partner will read aloud. The extension challenges students to read and write numbers that extend into the 100 billions.

Part 1

Together, let’s read the numbers on the board that range between one thousand and 10 billion. Here we go!

Examples:

38,651
5,421
690,001
34,398,160
6,722,456

While children are enjoying their building of mastery, feel free to repeat. When children are eager for more, try Part 2.

Part 2

On a piece of paper, you and your partner will each write down three different numbers between 1 thousand and 10 billion. When I say, SWITCH, trade papers and see if you can each name the three numbers that your partner wrote down.

If some pairs finish quickly: Who wrote down the biggest number? Can you order your partner’s numbers from least to greatest?

As always, when children seem excited for a new challenge, move on.

Extension

Let’s keep going with even bigger numbers! Write a number between 1 thousand and 100 billion. (Then ask students to read their numbers aloud.)