If you’re looking for a hands-on, reusable resource to help your students master place value, I’ve got a freebie you’re going to love! This printable Place Value Mat is perfect for reviewing and reinforcing whole numbers and decimals in your 4th or 5th grade classroom. Whether you’re introducing new place value concepts or spiraling back to review before a test, this free math tool gives your students the structure and support they need to build deep understanding.

👉 Click here to grab your free Place Value Mat!

What Is the Place Value Mat

This free printable mat features a full-color and black-and-white place value chart that spans:

• Whole numbers up to the hundred millions
• Decimals through the thousandths

It’s broken into clearly labeled periods: millions, thousands, ones, and decimal, so students can visually see how numbers are grouped and named. It also includes:

• A section to write the number
• A word form section
• An expanded form section
• An open number line that can be used in flexible ways—perfect for rounding, comparing, or modeling operations like addition and subtraction.

💡 Tip: Print a class set and laminate or slide into sheet protectors to make them dry erase marker-friendly. Instant reusable math station tool!

Why Upper Elementary Teachers Love the Place Value Mat

This mat isn’t just colorful—it’s incredibly functional. It scaffolds place value understanding from the concrete to the abstract, supports independent and guided practice, and gives students a visual anchor that they can use all year long!

Here’s how this tool fits seamlessly into your math block:

1. Perfect for Warm-Ups or Morning Work

Start your math lesson with a place value routine using the mat. Give students a number of the day and have them:

• Write it in standard form
• Write the word form
• Break it down in expanded form
• Represent it on the number line (such as rounding it to the nearest ten or hundred)

This five-minute warm-up boosts number sense while reviewing essential skills.

2. Supports CRA Instruction

If you’re a fan of the concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) model (🙆‍♀️ yes, please!), this mat is a great bridge between manipulatives and abstract number work. Students can use base ten blocks or place value disks first, then transfer their understanding to the mat.

This is especially helpful when moving from whole numbers to decimals—a concept that can feel tricky without strong visual supports.

3. Ideal for Small Group Instruction or Math Workshop

During small groups, use the mat to differentiate place value work based on students’ needs. Some ideas:

• On-level students: Compare numbers using >, <, =, then model the reasoning on the number line.
• Advanced students: Practice reading and writing decimals in word and expanded form.
• Struggling students: Focus on just the thousands or ones period, gradually expanding as they grow.

Bonus: You don’t have to prep anything new—just hand them the mat and dry erase marker!

4. Review and Spiral Practice Anytime

Place value isn’t just a beginning-of-the-year skill—it shows up in rounding, comparing, operations, and decimals all year long.

This mat is a powerful tool to spiral review place value concepts without pulling out an entire new lesson. Use it for:

• Test prep
• Exit tickets
• Fast finisher work
• Partner practice
• Homework reference tool (send a copy home!)

5. Build Math Vocabulary and Confidence

Word form and expanded form aren’t just rote exercises—they build number fluency and vocabulary. This mat reinforces those forms every time it’s used, which helps students become more confident math communicators.

Plus, seeing the visual layout of each period helps them better understand how our number system works. It’s a great way to tackle those “place value gaps” before they become bigger issues.

Bonus Use: Open Number Line for Flexible Thinking

The number line at the bottom is intentionally left open so you can use it for:

• Rounding numbers
• Estimating sums or differences
• Showing jumps in mental math
• Modeling decimals on a number line

This turns your place value mat into a multi-use visual math tool, not just a worksheet.

Whether you’re kicking off your place value unit or reviewing for state testing, this free Place Value Mat is a must-have math resource. It saves you time, boosts student engagement, and reinforces key skills with every use.

No prep. No fuss. All the place value practice you need in one simple printable.

✅ Print it once. Use it all year.