Builder Beaver
Construct Numbers with Tens and Ones!
Put on your hard hat! Builder Beaver needs help constructing a dam, but he only uses mathematical logs. This game is a hands-on way for Year 1 and Year 2 students to master Place Value.
By handling "bundles of ten" and "single sticks", children move away from counting on their fingers and start understanding the structure of two-digit numbers (e.g., 34 is three tens and four ones).
đĻĢ How to Play
-
đ
Check the Blueprint Look at the target number (e.g., "42") at the top of the screen.
-
đĒĩ
Gather Materials Drag Bundles of Ten (big logs) and Ones (small sticks) into the river dam.
-
đī¸
Build It Need 42? Use 4 Bundles and 2 Sticks. Hit the "BUILD" button to verify your construction!
đ Curriculum Focus (Place Value)
Builder Beaver solidifies the concept of "Base 10", a core requirement for Key Stage 1:
- Partitioning Recognise the place value of each digit in a two-digit number (tens, ones).
- Representation Identify, represent and estimate numbers using different representations (e.g., concrete objects).
- Addition Add and subtract numbers using concrete objects and pictorial representations.
đ§ The Power of Manipulatives
In the classroom, we use "Dienes blocks" (plastic cubes). This game is a digital version of that.
It visually proves that a "Ten" is literally made of ten "Ones", helping children understand why the '3' in '30' is worth more than the '9' in '9'.
đ¨âđŠâđ§ Tips for Parents
Kitchen Cupboard Math:
- Use dried pasta. A single piece is a "One". A handful of 10 tied with a rubber band is a "Ten".
- "Show me the number 23 using pasta." (2 bundles, 3 singles).
- "What happens if I add one more bundle?" (It becomes 33).
Designed for UK Year 1 & 2. Compatible with White Rose Maths "Place Value".