You will learn
- Say that the tens digit tells how many groups of ten.
- Read the tens digit in a number.
- Show tens with bundles or drawings.
- Count in tens to 100.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- The tens digit is on the left.
- In 62 the 6 means 6 tens, which is 60.
- Tens can be shown by bundles or lines.
- Count in tens: 10, 20, 30… 100.
Words to know
Groups of ten. The digit on the left in a two-digit number.
A group of 10 ones.
How much a digit is worth.
The value of a digit because of where it is.
1. Discover: bundles on a stall
A seller packs pencils in bundles of ten. She has 4 bundles. How many pencils is that?
2. Understand: understanding tens
The digit on the left of a two-digit number is the tens digit. In 47, the 4 means 4 tens, or 40. The 7 means 7 ones.
So 47 = 40 + 7.
The tens digit is worth ten times as much as the same digit in the ones place. A 4 in the tens place is worth 40, not 4.
Idea 1: The tens digit
In 83, the tens digit is 8. It means 8 tens, which is 80. The ones digit is 3.
Idea 2: The value of a digit
The 5 in 53 is worth 50. The 5 in 35 is worth only 5.
Why? The place of a digit gives its value. This is called place value.
Idea 3: Show tens with lines
Draw one line for each ten and one dot for each one. 47 is 4 lines and 7 dots.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Tens digit in 83
What is the tens digit in 83?
- Look at the digit on the left.
- It is 8, which means 8 tens.
Answer: The tens digit is 8.
Example 2 (We do it together): 90 as tens
Write 90 as tens.
- 90 is 9 and a zero.
- 9 in the tens place means 9 tens.
Answer: 9 tens
Example 3 (You try): Value of the 4 in 47
What is the 4 in 47 worth?
Show the steps and answer
- The 4 is in the tens place.
- 4 tens is 40.
Answer: The 4 is worth 40.
Did you know?
In 555 each 5 has a different value. The right 5 is worth 5, the middle 5 is worth 50 and the left 5 is worth 500.
Why this matters
Place value tells us the value of each digit. It lets us compare and add big numbers.
4. Explore: tens and ones
You need 40 counters or bundles.
- Make 5 bundles of ten. How many counters?
- Add 3 ones. What number is it?
- Write 53 as 50 + 3.
- Try 3 tens and 8 ones.
Think about it: what did you notice?
5 tens is 50. 50 + 3 = 53. 3 tens and 8 ones is 38.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The tens digit of ___ is ___.
- ___ tens is ___.
- The ___ in ___ is worth ___.
- I count in tens: ___, ___, ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. The tens digit in 62?
6 (6 tens = 60).
Question 2. What is 7 tens?
70.
Question 3. 47 = 40 + ?
7.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Tens digit in 83?
- What is 90 as tens?
- Write 25 as tens and ones.
- 47 = __ + 7
- Which is bigger: 3 tens or 30 ones? (hint: 30 ones)
Level 2: Grow
- What is the tens digit in 74?
- What is 6 tens?
- Write 38 as tens and ones.
Level 3: Stretch
- What is the value of the 2 in 25 and in 52?
- Count in tens from 30 to 100.
- I have 6 tens and 6 ones. Is the 6 in the tens place worth more than the 6 in the ones place?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A shop has 5 bundles of 10 pens and 6 loose pens. How many pens?
Show a sample answer
50 + 6 = 56 pens.
Another one. A farmer packs eggs in trays of 10. She has 7 full trays. How many eggs is that?
Show a sample answer
7 tens is 70 eggs.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: The 4 in 47 is 4 tens, which is 40.
Fix: The 4 is in the tens place, so it is worth 40.
Fix: Tens are on the left. Ones are on the right.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say that the tens digit tells how many groups of ten.
- I can read the tens digit in a number.
- I can show tens with bundles or drawings.
- I can count in tens to 100.
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
- The left-hand digit is the tens digit.
- 47 = 40 + 7.
- A digit is worth more in the tens place.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Representing two-digit numbers. 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.
- What is the tens digit in 59? [1 mark]
- What is 8 tens? [1 mark]
- Write 46 as tens and ones. [2 marks]
- Count in tens and fill the gaps: 20, __, 40, __, 60 [2 marks]
- In 72 and 27, which 7 is worth more? Explain. [2 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 5 [1]
- 80 [1]
- 4 tens [1] and 6 ones [1]
- 30 [1], 50 [1]
- The 7 in 72 [1]; it is 70 and the other is 7 [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
- Tens digit in 71?
- What is 6 tens?
- 83 = 80 + __
- Count in tens: 10, __, 30, __
- Which is greater, the 8 in 84 or the 8 in 48?
- What is the tens digit in 94?
- What is 3 tens?
- 47 = 40 + __
- Count in tens: 70, 80, __
- Draw 25 with lines and dots.
Homework
Find three two-digit numbers at home. Say how many tens and ones each has and show with small objects or drawings.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Tens digit in 71? | 7 | 2 |
| What is 6 tens? | 60 | 2 |
| 83 = 80 + __ | 3 | 2 |
| Count in tens: 10, __, 30, __ | 20 and 40 | 2 |
| Which is greater, the 8 in 84 or the 8 in 48? | The 8 in 84 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 7; 2 60; 3 3; 4 20 and 40; 5 The 8 in 84.
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 9; 7 30; 8 7; 9 90; 10 2 lines and 5 dots.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 8; 2 9 tens; 3 2 tens and 5 ones; 4 40; 5 they are equal, because 3 tens is 30 and 30 ones is also 30. Level 2: 1 7; 2 60; 3 3 tens and 8 ones. Level 3: 1 20 in 25 and 2 in 52; 2 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100; 3 Yes. 60 is worth more than 6..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say that the tens digit tells how many groups of ten | 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 Read the tens digit in a number | 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 Show tens with bundles or drawings | 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 Count in tens to 100 | 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 |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Reading the tens digit as ones (thinking the 4 in 47 is 4). The 4 in 47 is 4 tens, which is 40.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Build 20, 30 and 40 with bundles and say how many tens.
- 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 learns what the tens digit means. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Use bundles of ten sticks to show numbers.
- Ask: what does the 6 in 62 mean?
- Count in tens together to 100.
- 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: say that the tens digit tells how many groups of ten; read the tens digit in a number; show tens with bundles or drawings; count in tens to 100.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 and 2.
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 40 counters or bundles. 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. Where is the tens digit? What is the 5 in 53 worth? How do you count in tens?
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. Reading the tens digit as ones (thinking the 4 in 47 is 4). The 4 in 47 is 4 tens, which is 40.
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. Build 20, 30 and 40 with bundles and say how many tens. 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
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official 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. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 1 » Number & Operations in Base Ten. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 1.NBT.B.2 (tens); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 1. These sources informed the lesson.