MEGA Elementary Education Multi-Content Practice Test

Which activity would most effectively support students' understanding of place value?

1. Playing a card game where students call out numbers

2. Building double-digit numbers with foam rods

3. Solving addition sentences with two single-digit numbers

4. Using magnetic tens frames to compose numbers

The correct answer is: Using magnetic tens frames to compose numbers

Using magnetic ten frames to compose numbers effectively supports students' understanding of place value because it visually represents the concept of grouping numbers into tens and ones. This hands-on activity allows students to physically manipulate the frames, reinforcing the idea that each frame can hold a specific number of tens. It provides a concrete way to see how digits in a number correspond to their respective place values, making the abstract concept of place value much more tangible. Manipulating the magnetic ten frames, students can experiment with combining or breaking apart numbers, enabling them to grasp how numbers are built and decomposed in a place value system. This interactive approach stimulates engagement and helps solidify their understanding, as students can visualize and physically count the quantities they are working with. While other activities, such as playing a card game or solving addition sentences, might promote number recognition or basic arithmetic skills, they do not emphasize the foundational concept of place value as effectively. Building double-digit numbers with foam rods provides a three-dimensional representation but may lack the direct connection to understanding groups of ten that the magnetic ten frames offer. Overall, using magnetic ten frames is a targeted and effective strategy for enhancing students' comprehension of place value.