17 Exciting Expanded Form Activities

Although learning expanded form can be difficult for some students, it’s an important skill to learn. Learning the basics and understanding that numbers are composed of different place values allows students to simplify expressions and solve equations with ease. This knowledge is also important in a wide range of mathematical concepts including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Let’s take a look at some exciting expanded form activities.

1. Expanded Form Game

In this fun number game, kids roll the dice included in the pack and choose the cards that match each of the 4 place values. They then write these numerals onto their sheet in the correct spaces. They can also stack the cards first and pull them apart to see the expanded form.

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2. Expanded Form Learning Mat

This example displays 3-digit numbers but can be adapted for 2, or 4-digit numbers too. Kids must draw the number in ten base blocks, write how many hundreds, tens, and ones there are, write the value of each number, and then write this in expanded form.

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3. Memory Game

This can be played in pairs or small groups. Each student takes a turn turning over 2 cards. If they match, they get to keep them, if they don’t, they must put them back. The winner is the student with the most cards at the end of the game.

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4. Expand Like a Rubber Band Activity

Write the numbers from your expression on the board and hold up a rubber band. Stretch it out to show your students that you can expand the numbers as shown. The phrase “expand like a rubber band” will really stick in students’ heads!

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5. Expanded Paper Folding Activity

This is a great hands-on activity for little learners! Carefully following the instructions in the video, learners can make expanding paper snakes that depict their numbers in expanded form. 

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6. Expanded Form Worksheets

These wonderful math worksheets teach children that expanded numbers are separated by place value. This is a great way to challenge students who are just starting to learn about expanding form.

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7. Expanded Form Cups

For this activity, you will need a sharpie and at least 3 foam cups. On the first cup, students must mark out their ones. On the second cup they mark out the tens, and, on the third, they can mark the hundreds. Students can make a number 0-99 by turning the cups to line up the numbers.

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8. Expanding Form Monsters

This super fun craft can be differentiated for 2, 3, and 4-digit numbers. Simply glue the completed worksheet to the monster. You’ll require pink, yellow, and black card stock. Outline the monster’s hands, head, eyes, and smile. Cut out and then stick as shown in the photo.

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9. Expanded Form Task Cards

These fantastic task cards will be a great test of your student’s math skills! Each bundle comes with 32 task cards, a recording, and an answer sheet. It can be printed in black and white or in color. Students must write the answers in the correct spot on their answer sheets.

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10. 2-Digit Expanded Form

This activity is perfect for little ones who are just developing an understanding of expanded form. Once laminated, hand the printable out to students to read the number on the train. They must then fill in the expanded form in dry-erase marker on each of the train carriages.

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11. Expanded Form Bubblegum Activity

These cute printable strips can be laminated and used by kids to write the number at the start in expanded form. When they write this in dry-erase marker, they can be wiped clean and reused by other students. 

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12. Find Your Partner

Each student is handed a card. They are tasked with moving around the room to find the card that matches theirs. There should be an expanded form for each number. 

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13. Representing Numbers with Expanded Form

These anchor charts and task cards are really useful when modeling the steps of expanding form. Have students copy this into their books to refer back to. Make sure they use different numbers for their examples.

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14. Expanded Form Math Playing Cards

This is a great hands-on math activity for kids. The aim is to become the first player to not have any cards by answering the questions on expanding form and standard form. This can be used as a math station game or just as a fun review activity.

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15. Apple Activity

This sweet apple tree and matching cards can be laminated so that they can be reused. First, learners spin the tens spinner and choose their tens card. Next, they spin the one’s spinner and write their number in the box. They need to then pick the correct apple and basket card to make their number.

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16. Quadratic Functions Foldable

When completed, this quadratic foldable will fit perfectly in student workbooks. Simply, have your students follow the instructions to fold and cut where it states. They can then fill in examples of standard forms and expanded forms.

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17. Scientific Notation to Standard Form Activity

This fun worksheet needs to be cut and glued together by students and serves as a reminder of how to convert scientific form to standard form. Students love learning new ways to memorize tricky concepts; making this activity perfect to add to your lesson plans.

Learn More: Scaffolded Math