Play along with Remy from HOMER to practice breaking numbers into tens and ones! Kids use counters to build numbers, strengthening their understanding of place value in a fun, hands-on way.
Materials Needed:
🖨️ Printed “Guess My Number” sheet (print multiple copies for repeat play or slip into a sheet protector to use with a dry erase marker) and counters (or substitute with real objects like buttons, coins, or beans)
✂️ Child-safe scissors to cut counters (you will likely need to help, as the squares are small)
✏️ Pencil
⏱️ Time Needed: 10-15 minutes
👩👧 Best As: A do-together activity (kids benefit from playing with an adult—even if older children can do the math independently, it’s more fun together!)
How to Use:
- Print and cut out the counters (you may need to help with cutting since the squares are small) or gather real objects to use instead.
- Place the tens/ones chart in front of your child.
- Pick a number and say it out loud (for example, “22”).
- Work together to build the number by, for example, placing 2 “10s” in the tens column and 2 “ones” in the ones column.
- Switch roles—let your child pick a number for you to build.
- Once they’re ready, try giving clues instead of saying the number directly to encourage problem-solving and reasoning.
Support place value understanding, build math confidence, and make learning numbers playful with Remy!
Why Learning About Place Value Matters for Growing Minds
Breaking numbers into tens and ones is an important early math skill. It helps children understand place value, making it easier to add, subtract, and eventually work with bigger numbers. By using counters to “build” numbers, kids get a concrete, visual way to see how numbers are made—rather than just memorizing.
✨ Want to make it even more meaningful? After your child gets the hang of it, make the game more challenging by giving clues instead of saying the number outright (for example: “I’m thinking of a number that’s greater than 10 but less than 16”).
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