Hundreds, Tens and Ones Worksheets

Hundreds, tens and ones are the three places of a three-digit number: 347 is 3 hundreds, 4 tens and 7 ones. The eight PDFs on this page have base-ten blocks, expanded form, the value of a digit and number words to 999, and every sheet has an answer key. They follow standards 2.NBT.A.1 and 2.NBT.A.3 of the Common Core standards for grade 2 number and operations in base ten, and the notes below show how to teach the three places, with tables of the numbers, the zeros and the number names.

About three-digit place value

In grade 2, children learn that the three digits of a number stand for hundreds, tens and ones, and that 100 is a bundle of ten tens (Common Core 2.NBT.A.1). They also read and write numbers to 1,000 in numerals, words and expanded form (2.NBT.A.3).

• Base-ten blocks: flats, rods and cubes to count.
• Expanded form: 528 = 500 + 20 + 8, including numbers with zeros like 406 = 400 + 6.
• Value of a digit: name the place and the value of the underlined digit.
• Number names: “three hundred forty-seven” to 347 and back.

Hundreds tens and ones worksheets: what is in the set

There are 8 hundreds tens and ones worksheets on this page, and every one has an answer key except for any cut-out games. Two sheets use base-ten blocks, three use expanded form, two are about the value of a digit, and one is about number words.

Hundreds tens and ones worksheets: three places, three values

The hundreds tens and ones worksheets teach that each digit of a three-digit number has a place and a value. In 347, the 3 is in the hundreds place and is worth 300, the 4 is in the tens place and is worth 40, and the 7 is in the ones place and is worth 7. Wikipedia’s article on positional notation describes the idea. The place value chart tool shows the three places on screen. This table counts the 900 three-digit numbers from 100 to 999 in six ways:

Just under one in five of the three-digit numbers has a zero in it, and children often find these the hardest to read and write. There are 90 numbers that read the same forwards and backwards, such as 121 and 454. These facts show that the position of each digit matters.

3 digit place value worksheets: expanded form

The 3 digit place value worksheets use expanded form to show the value of each digit. A number is written as the sum of its hundreds, tens and ones: 528 = 500 + 20 + 8. When a digit is zero, nothing is added for that place, so 406 = 400 + 6. This table shows seven numbers in expanded form, with their names:

The sheets have both directions: from the number to the expanded form, and from the expanded form to the number. The second is harder when the parts are not in order, as in 8 + 500 + 30. The standard 2.NBT.A.3 asks for expanded form, and the Common Core standards for grade 2 number and operations in base ten also list the standards for counting and comparing.

Expanded form worksheets grade 2: zeros as place holders

For expanded form worksheets grade 2, zeros are the biggest challenge. A zero in a number does not add anything to the expanded form, but it holds a place. Without the zero, 406 would be 46, which is a very different number. The diagram above shows 406 with a zero in the tens place. A good question is to ask “what would 406 become if we took out the zero?”.

Children can also build the number with blocks. For 406, they take 4 flats, no rods and 6 cubes. This table shows blocks for six numbers, and the number of pieces in each:

The number 999 needs 9 flats, 9 rods and 9 cubes, which is 27 pieces. A thousand block is a cube made of ten flats.

Place value worksheets grade 2: the value of a digit

The place value worksheets grade 2 ask for the value of an underlined digit. The same digit has a different value in a different place, and some numbers have two of the same digit. This table shows six numbers and the value of the digit:

In 505, the first 5 is worth 500 and the last 5 is worth 5. A child who says that both are worth 5 has not yet seen the idea of place. A good game is to ask for a number where the digit 7 is worth 70, and for another where it is worth 700.

Number words to 1000: reading and writing the names

The number words to 1000 sheet asks children to write numbers in words and words as numbers. In US schools, “and” is used only for the decimal point, so 347 is “three hundred forty-seven”, and not “three hundred and forty-seven”. This table shows nine numbers, their names and the number of letters:

The number with the longest name below 1,000 is 373, which is three hundred seventy-three, with 24 letters. The tens words from 20 to 90 are hyphenated when a ones word follows, as in sixty-three. The names of large numbers article on Wikipedia shows how the names continue beyond a thousand.

Regrouping hundreds, tens and ones

A number can be built from hundreds, tens and ones in more than one way, and this is the idea of regrouping. 345 is 3 hundreds, 4 tens and 5 ones, but it is also 2 hundreds, 14 tens and 5 ones, since one hundred is ten tens. This table shows four ways to make 345:

The last row shows that 345 is 34 tens and 5 ones. This idea is used in subtraction with regrouping, as in the subtraction worksheets pages, and when rounding to the nearest ten. The sheets in this pack use the normal way, with the fewest blocks.

Counting by 10s and 100s within 1,000

Standard 2.NBT.A.2 asks children to count within 1,000, and to skip count by 5s, 10s and 100s. Place value helps: when counting by tens, the tens digit goes up; when counting by hundreds, the hundreds digit goes up. This table shows five counts:

The skip counting worksheets and hundreds charts pages have more of these counts, and the number line tool shows the jumps on a line.

Common mistakes with hundreds, tens and ones

The most common mistake is to put the wrong number of zeros, or to leave out a zero. This table shows five mistakes, what went wrong and the fix:

Hundreds tens and ones word problems

Hundreds, tens and ones come up with blocks and collections. Ask children to say each number as hundreds, tens and ones before they write it:

Games and activities for hundreds tens and ones

Children learn hundreds tens and ones best when they play with it. These games use things that are found at home or in a classroom:

• Build it: roll three dice, and build the number with flats, rods and cubes
• Place value bingo: a bingo card with numbers, and calling cards that say hundreds, tens and ones
• Hide the zero: cover one digit of a number, and ask a partner what it is worth
• Number detective: give clues: “my hundreds digit is 4 and my tens digit is 0”
• Expanded form match: match cards of numbers with cards of expanded forms
• Say it and write it: say a number name, and have a partner write the number

Extra support and extra challenge with hundreds tens and ones

For children who need more support: use real base-ten blocks, or draw flats, rods and cubes. Build each number, count the flats, rods and cubes, and write the digits. Make a place value chart with three columns, and put the digits in. Keep to numbers without zeros first, and then add the numbers with zeros. Use the answer key to check.

For children who need more challenge: ask for the number with 3 hundreds and 15 tens, for the biggest number with all digits different, and for the value of each 5 in 5,055 (a first look at the next page). Writing numbers in expanded form with the parts out of order is a good challenge.

How to tell that a child is ready to move on from hundreds tens and ones

Before moving on from hundreds tens and ones, check that the child can do all four of these things:

1. The child builds a 3-digit number with flats, rods and cubes.
2. The child writes a number in expanded form, including numbers with zeros.
3. The child says the value of any digit of a 3-digit number.
4. The child writes number names and numbers to 999.

When all four are true, move on to the large numbers place value page, or the comparing 2 and 3 digit numbers page.

A 20-minute lesson on hundreds tens and ones

A short lesson is the best way to introduce hundreds tens and ones. This 20-minute plan can be used in a classroom, at a tutoring session or at home, and it uses the worksheets at the end:

Where hundreds tens and ones fits across the grades

No skill stands alone. This table shows what children learn before and after hundreds tens and ones, with the standard that goes with each step:

This page is the center of the place value sequence for the early grades. The whole sequence is on the place value worksheets page.

Helping at home with hundreds tens and ones

Parents do not need to be experts to help with hundreds tens and ones. These suggestions work well, and each takes only a few minutes:

• Ask “how many hundreds, tens and ones?” about house numbers and prices.
• Make a place value chart on paper, and put digit cards in it.
• Use play money: hundreds, tens and ones.
• Look for zeros in numbers, and say what they hold.
• Check answers with the answer key and ask the child to explain one.

How to check progress in hundreds tens and ones

A teacher or parent can check progress in hundreds tens and ones with the answer key and a few questions. This table shows three common situations, what they mean and what to do next:

A five-day plan for hundreds tens and ones

Most children need about a week of short sessions for hundreds tens and ones. This plan follows the order of the worksheets on this page:

When the plan for hundreds tens and ones is complete, move on to the large numbers place value page. The whole sequence is on the place value worksheets page.