Place Value Match: a place value matching game
Match tens and ones, expanded form or number names with the right number. A free place value matching game for any device. Grades 1–4.
🧒 Kids: Turn over 2 cards. Find a number and its partner, like 4 tens 7 ones and 47. Find all the pairs!
How to play
- Choose what to match (tens and ones, expanded form, number names or the value of a digit) and how many pairs (6, 8 or 10).
- Press Deal the cards. All cards start face down.
- Turn over two cards. If one shows a number in another form and the other is that number, like 4 tens 7 ones and 47, they stay face up.
- If they don’t match, they turn back over. Remember where they were!
- Find every pair in as few moves as you can.
What your child practices
Matching slows children down just enough to read each card carefully. The settings practice tens and ones (1.NBT.B.2), expanded form and number names to 1,000 (2.NBT.A.3), and the value of a digit in four-digit numbers (2.NBT.A.1, 4.NBT.A.1). Every number in a game is different, so each card has exactly one partner.
Which setting to choose
| Setting | Example | Good for | Learn it first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tens and ones | 5 tens 3 ones and 53 | Grade 1 | tens and ones |
| Expanded form | 600 + 9 and 609 | Grades 2–3 | expanded form |
| Number names | fifty-four and 54 | Grades 1–3 | number names |
| Value of a digit | the red 5 in 9,755 and 50 | Grades 3–4 | place value and face value |
Grade 1 children can start with tens and ones and number names. Grade 2 children should try expanded form, and grades 3 and 4 the value of a digit.
Once your child can clear 10 pairs in about 12 moves, try Place Value Bingo next, which adds a gentle timer.
Tips for parents
- Play together and take turns. Read each card aloud, like “4 tens and 7 ones”.
- Start with 6 pairs.
- When you find a pair, explain it: “6 hundreds is 600, plus 9 is 609.”
- After the game, read the list of pairs on the results screen together.
- Your best (fewest moves) is saved for each setting.
In the classroom
Works well on an interactive whiteboard with two teams taking turns. For a quieter version, children play on their own devices and record their move count. The tens and ones setting makes a good warm-up before two-digit addition.
More place value games and practice
Games: Place Value Race · Place Value Bingo · all place value games · Place Value Pirates · addition games · all math games
Print it: the place value worksheet, the tens and ones worksheet and the expanded form worksheet, with answer keys, for practice away from the screen.
Practice: place value practice · place value calculator · place value quiz · place value levels
Last reviewed
Questions parents ask
How do you play Place Value Match?
Turn over two cards at a time and match each card with its number, such as 4 tens 7 ones and 47. Find all the pairs in as few moves as possible.
What can you match in this place value game?
Tens and ones, expanded form, number names, or the value of a red digit, each with its number.
How many cards are there?
Up to 20 cards: 6, 8 or 10 pairs. Every number is different, so each card has exactly one partner.
What grade is Place Value Match for?
Grades 1 to 4. Tens and ones suits grade 1, expanded form grade 2, and the value of a digit grades 3 and 4.
Is there a timer?
No. Place Value Match has no time pressure, which makes it a good first place value game.