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Illustrations by Dave Clegg; Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
Math,

Slithering Place Values

There are more than 3,000 species of snakes in the world! Learn more about these slithering reptiles as you play this game. Two to four people can play. 

By Jessica McKenna-Ratjen
From the October 2020 Issue
Focus Area: Numbers and Operations,
Standards
  • MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES: MP2, MP4, MP8 CCSS: 3.NBT.A.1, 4.NBT.A.2, 4.NBT.A.3, 5.NBT.A.4 TEKS: 3.2, 4.2, 5.2

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expanded form

A way of writing numbers using the sum of each digit’s place value        

Example: 238 written in expanded form is (2 x 100) + (3 x 10) + (8 x 1)
Round

To replace by a number that is approximately equal but simpler. Numbers can be rounded up (if the digit to the right of the place value you're rounding to is 5 or greater) or rounded down (if the digit to the right of the place value you're rounding to is less than 5).

Example: 25 rounded to the nearest ten is 30.
unit form

A way of writing numbers using numerals and their place value expressed as a unit

Example: 92 written in unit form is 9 tens 2 ones.

• One die 

• A different game piece for each player. These can be small objects such as a coin, paper clip, or eraser. 

Place your game pieces on START, then roll the die. Take turns moving your piece ahead the number of spaces you roll. Follow the instructions on the space you land on. If you land on a question, answer it! If you answer the question correctly, move ahead 1 space. If you can’t answer the question, your turn ends. 

What a catch! You digest a huge meal for 10 days. Lose a turn.

The largest known snake that ever lived was the Titanoboa. It weighed about 1.25 tons! How many tenths are in 1.25? 

There are 55 species of sea snakes, which mainly live in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Round 55 to the nearest ten. 

The 2.5-mile Snake Road in Shawnee National Forest in Illinois is closed each spring and fall season to allow snakes to cross it. Which digit in 2.5 has the greater value: 2 or 5?  

The record for heaviest captive snake goes to Baby, a 403-pound Burmese python! How many tens are in 403? 

Shedding season! You leave your old skin behind. Move ahead 1 space. 

Fewer than 1 in 37,500 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year. Write 37,500 in unit form.  

Cold front! Temperatures below 65°F make you feel sluggish. Lose a turn. 

“Flying” snakes in Asia can glide up to 330 feet from branch to branch. Write 330 in expanded form.

Sun’s out! You dart toward a sunny rock. Move ahead 2 spaces. 

The amount of venom a snake can carry ranges from 1 to 850 milligrams. Draw a model to represent 850. 

The world’s smallest snake is the Barbados thread snake. It’s an average of 3.94 inches long! Round 3.94 to the nearest whole inch.

Continue Your Learning

  • Play the game “Slithering Place Values” (above) to practice your place value skills.
  • Design your own math board game! Pick an animal to use as your theme, and research several numerical facts about it. Use the facts to create questions for your game. Then draw your game board. Don’t forget to include spaces that send players forward or backward in the game, or that make them lose a turn. Once you’ve finished, invite your family members or friends to play!
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