Make learning expanded form interactive and engaging with the Spin It! Expanded Form Game! This hands-on four-in-a-row game helps students build their understanding of how numbers can be broken down into parts using the part-part-whole strategy. Designed for early years and lower primary students, this resource encourages learners to connect numerals with their expanded forms in a playful, collaborative setting that promotes both critical thinking and number fluency.

To play, students use a spinner featuring either whole numbers or expanded forms, depending on the variation you choose. Once a value is spun, players scan their game board to find the corresponding match. If they locate the matching expanded or total form, they cover that space with a counter or marker. The goal is to be the first to get four in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. With the excitement of a race and the educational value of number recognition and decomposition, this game strikes the perfect balance between fun and learning.

The Spin It! Expanded Form Game supports students in breaking down numbers into tens and ones, which is a crucial foundation for understanding place value, number relationships, and mental strategies for addition and subtraction. The resource is perfect for small group work, numeracy centres, or partner activities. It encourages discussion, strategy, and repeated exposure to the concept of expanded form, helping to consolidate learning through meaningful repetition.

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Recognise and match numbers in standard and expanded form
• ✅ Apply the part-part-whole strategy to break down numbers
• ✅ Build fluency with place value concepts using hands-on practice
• ✅ Strengthen number sense through structured gameplay

What’s Included

• Game boards featuring numbers in standard or expanded form
• Printable spinners for both standard and expanded form versions
• Instructions for gameplay and classroom setup
• Low colour and black-and-white options for cost-effective printing

Materials Needed

• Printed game boards and spinners
• Paper fastener and paperclip for spinner (or use a transparent spinner)
• Counters, buttons, or game markers for each player

How to Use

1. Print and laminate the game boards and spinners for durability
2. Choose whether students will match from expanded to total form or vice versa
3. Spin the spinner and locate a matching number on the board
4. Cover the matching space and aim to get four in a row
5. Rotate turns until one player wins or the board is full

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Use as a warm-up activity in small maths groups
• 💡 Add to your maths rotations for place value practice
• 💡 Provide as a fast finisher task for students needing review
• 💡 Encourage students to explain their thinking as they match numbers

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Colour-code spinners and boards to keep sets organised
• 💛 Model a few turns first to ensure students understand expanded form
• 💛 Introduce a tally chart to track how many expanded forms each student can recognise

The Spin It! Expanded Form Game brings number decomposition to life and is the perfect way to make expanded form practice fun, interactive, and effective!