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The Place Value Blocks block displays base-10 blocks (also known as MAB blocks) showing thousands cubes, hundreds flats, tens rods, and ones units. Use it to visually represent numbers and teach place value concepts. This is a display block for teaching and demonstration. Learners can view the blocks but aren’t assessed on manipulating them.
For assessable activities where learners drag and drop blocks to build numbers, use the Place Value Blocks Question block instead.

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When to use Place Value Blocks

Place Value Blocks work well for:
  • Representing numbers visually using base-10 models
  • Teaching the value of each digit in a number
  • Demonstrating regrouping and trading concepts
  • Showing how numbers are composed and decomposed
  • Providing a visual reference alongside question content

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Settings

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Block counts

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slider
default:"0"
The number of thousands cubes to display (0 to 9).
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slider
default:"1"
The number of hundreds flats to display (0 to 9).
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slider
default:"2"
The number of tens rods to display (0 to 20).
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slider
default:"3"
The number of ones units to display (0 to 100).

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Visibility

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switch
default:"true"
When enabled, displays the thousands column.
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switch
default:"true"
When enabled, displays the hundreds column.
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switch
default:"true"
When enabled, displays the tens column.
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switch
default:"true"
When enabled, displays the ones column.

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Display settings

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select
default:"Blocks"
The visual style of the blocks:
  • Blocks: Realistic base-10 block representations
  • Minimal: Simplified, icon-style representation
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switch
default:"true"
When enabled, displays place value labels (Thousands, Hundreds, Tens, Ones) beneath each column.
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select
default:"Horizontal"
How the place value columns are arranged:
  • Horizontal: Columns side by side
  • Grouped: Columns grouped together
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select
default:"Medium"
The display size of the blocks:
  • Small: Compact display
  • Medium: Standard display
  • Large: Larger display for projection or emphasis

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Color settings

You can customize the color of each place value group:
  • Thousands color: Color for thousands cubes
  • Hundreds color: Color for hundreds flats
  • Tens color: Color for tens rods
  • Ones color: Color for ones units

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Tips for teachers and parents

Best practices:
  • Hide the thousands column when working with numbers under 1,000
  • Use consistent colors to help learners associate each color with a place value
  • Start with ones and tens only for younger learners, then add hundreds and thousands
  • Turn off labels for activities where learners identify the place values themselves
  • Use alongside written numbers to connect the visual model to symbolic representation
  • Try the Minimal style for a cleaner look when the realistic blocks feel cluttered