You will learn
- Read and write numbers up to 1,000,000.
- Know that 1,000,000 is 10 hundred-thousands.
- Count in 100,000s.
- Use commas in six-digit numbers.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · expert review pending Standards alignment: pending verification. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- 100,000 is ten ten-thousands.
- 1,000,000 is ten hundred-thousands.
- Count in hundred-thousands.
- Use commas in six-digit numbers.
Words to know
1,000,000, one thousand thousands.
100,000.
A number from 100,000 to 999,999.
Marks the groups of three digits.
1. Discover: a city population
A city has 250,000 people. How many hundred-thousands is that? How many more people would make a million?
2. Understand: six-digit numbers and one million
After 99,999 comes 100,000. Ten hundred-thousands make 1,000,000 (one million).
- 250,000 is two hundred fifty thousand.
- Count in 100,000s: 100,000; 200,000; 300,000 … 900,000; 1,000,000.
- 1,000,000 − 250,000 = 750,000.
Idea 1: Million
10 hundred-thousands make 1,000,000, one million. A million has 6 zeros.
Idea 2: Read and write
600,000 is six hundred thousand. Four hundred six thousand is 406,000.
Idea 3: Count
300,000; 400,000; 500,000. One million minus 100,000 is 900,000.
Why a million? It is the next big place after hundred-thousands.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Words
Write 600,000 in words.
- 6 hundred thousands.
Answer: six hundred thousand
Example 2 (We do it together): Digits
Four hundred six thousand
- 406 thousands.
Answer: 406,000
Example 3 (You try): Count
300,000; 400,000; __
Show the steps and answer
- Add 100,000.
Answer: 500,000
Did you know?
One million seconds is about 11 and a half days.
Why this matters
Millions describe populations and big distances.
4. Explore: count to a million
You need paper and a pencil.
- Count in 100,000s to 1,000,000.
- Write 250,000 in words.
- Write four hundred six thousand in digits.
- Find 1,000,000 − 250,000.
Think about it: what did you notice?
406,000; 750,000.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- In words it is ___.
- In digits it is ___.
- Counting on 100,000 gives ___.
- A million has ___ zeros.
Guided practice
Question 1. What comes after 99,999?
100,000.
Question 2. How many hundred-thousands make a million?
10.
Question 3. 1,000,000 − 250,000?
750,000.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Write 600,000 in words
- Write four hundred six thousand
- Count: 300,000, 400,000, __
- Hundred-thousands in 900,000
- One million minus 100,000
Level 2: Grow
- Write 300,000 in words
- Write two hundred forty thousand in digits
- Count: 100,000; 200,000; __
Level 3: Stretch
- Hundred-thousands in 600,000
- 1,000,000 − 400,000
- Kofi writes five hundred thousand as 5,000. What is wrong?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A town has 480,000 people. How many more would make 500,000?
Show a sample answer
20,000.
Another one. Write 345,678 in words.
Show a sample answer
three hundred forty-five thousand, six hundred seventy-eight
7. Common mistakes
Fix: A million has six zeros.
Fix: Six digits need three digits after the comma.
Fix: A million has six zeros.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can read and write numbers up to 1,000,000.
- I know 1,000,000 is 10 hundred-thousands.
- I can count in 100,000s.
- I can use commas in six-digit numbers.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- 100,000 comes after 99,999.
- A million has six zeros.
- Count in 100,000s.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Place value. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- 10 hundred-thousands make how many? [1 mark]
- Write four hundred six thousand in digits. [1 mark]
- Count on: 300,000; 400,000; __. [1 mark]
- Find 1,000,000 − 100,000. [2 marks]
- Ana says a million has five zeros. Is she right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 1,000,000 [1]
- 406,000 [1]
- 500,000 [1]
- 10 × 100,000 − 100,000 [1]; 900,000 [1]
- No [1]. 1,000,000 has digits 1 and then 6 zeros [1]. A million has 6 zeros [1].
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- 600,000 in words
- Four hundred six thousand
- 300,000, 400,000, __
- Hundred-thousands in 900,000
- 1,000,000 − 100,000
- 10 hundred-thousands make ___.
- Four hundred six thousand in digits:
- 300,000; 400,000; ___
- 1,000,000 − 100,000 =
- A million has ___ zeros.
Homework
Find a country or city with about one million people.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 600,000 in words | six hundred thousand | 2 |
| Four hundred six thousand | 406,000 | 2 |
| 300,000, 400,000, __ | 500,000 | 2 |
| Hundred-thousands in 900,000 | 9 | 2 |
| 1,000,000 − 100,000 | 900,000 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 six hundred thousand; 2 406,000; 3 500,000; 4 9; 5 900,000.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 1,000,000; 7 406,000; 8 500,000; 9 900,000; 10 6.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 six hundred thousand; 2 406,000; 3 500,000; 4 9; 5 900,000. Level 2: 1 three hundred thousand; 2 240,000; 3 300,000. Level 3: 1 6; 2 600,000; 3 It needs six digits: 500,000..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Read and write numbers up to 1,000,000 | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Know that 1,000,000 is 10 hundred-thousands | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Count in 100,000s | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Use commas in six-digit numbers | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Proposed Courseversity thresholds for this page: Bronze = at least 8 of 12 core questions correct; Silver = all 12; Gold = all 12 plus both challenge questions. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Writing a million as 100,000. A million has six zeros.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Practise counting in 10,000s.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child reads, writes and counts numbers up to a million. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Find numbers in the millions in the news.
- Ask: how many zeros?
- Count in 100,000s together.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: read and write numbers up to 1,000,000; know that 1,000,000 is 10 hundred-thousands; count in 100,000s; use commas in six-digit numbers.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lesson 1.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need paper and a pencil. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How many hundred-thousands? Where are the commas? How many zeros?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Writing a million as 100,000. A million has six zeros.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 8-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Practise counting in 10,000s. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
Alignment is pending verification and no external endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Specific standard codes will be added once checked against the official documents.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 4.NBT.A.2 (numbers to 1,000,000); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 4 (place value). These sources informed the lesson; no official alignment is claimed.