Tell students that 0,1,2,3,and 4 have no power, but 5,6,7,8,and 9 have power!

I came up with this wording, so the kids could remember the process better, you may already do the too.

I will start with by rounding to 10.

I say: write down 23…underline the number in the tens place and circle the number next door.

Question: Does 3 have power? (no) So 3 poofs and flies away! (Students draw a squiggly line up to “number heaven!) Leaving 20.

Next, I say write 57…underline the number in the tens place and circle the number next door. Question: Does 7 have power? (yes!) This time 7 hands over his power of +1 and falls over and dies! (Students make a tombstone to hold his place… sounds terrible, but the kids just started doing that!) Leaving 60.

Continue until most of your class understands the concept of rounding…then move on to 3 digit numbers. I’ve taught my students numbers in front of the underlined number don’t change, and all numbers behind the line will change to zeros in both cases!

I have taught students this for the past 7 years and they rarely forget out to round!

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Kim Cajacob

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