Place Value Charts: Place Value Relationships [TEKS Tools Grade 5]

This post specifically looks at how place value charts can be used to compose/decompose numbers. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here.

PlAce Value Charts

Place value charts, the third TEKS Tool, account for around 9% of each 5th grade STAAR test. These charts help students understand our base-10 number system, including the use of decimals.

The main function of a place value chart is to show the relationship between place value locations in our number system. By visualizing numbers on a place value chart, students can compose, decompose, compare, and order numbers and understand place value magnitude.

Composing/Decomposing

Students deeply understand place value when they can rewrite numbers as the sum of smaller amounts based on various place value understandings.

5.2A - represent the value of the digit in decimals through the thousandths using expanded notation and numerals

Click on each > to expand

2023-4: three relationships were shown, students had to find a number that matched the given relationships

2025-10: a number was given in expanded notation, students had to find the matching number in word form

---

Metric Unit Conversions

The magnitude of each place value, especially when the locations are not adjacent, can be visualized using a place value chart and used to solve metric unit conversions.

5.7A - solve problems by calculating conversions within a measurement system, customary or metric

Click on each > to expand

2023-15: a value was given in kilograms, students had to convert to grams