Year 3 place value extends to three-digit numbers. In 364, the 3 is worth 300, the 6 is worth 60 and the 4 is worth 4. Children also count in 4s, 8s, 50s and 100s and find 10 or 100 more or less.
What your child will learn
- Recognise the value of each digit in a three-digit number
- Partition three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens and ones
- Read and write numbers to 1,000 in digits and words
- Find 10 or 100 more or less than a number
- Count in multiples of 4, 8, 50 and 100
Hundreds, tens and ones
A place-value chart makes the structure visible: hundreds on the left, then tens, then ones. Asking "What is the 6 worth?" rather than "What is the digit?" builds real understanding.
Zero as a place holder
In 405, the zero shows there are no tens. Without it, the number would be 45. Children often find zeros tricky, so talking about what they mean is worthwhile.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What is 400 + 60 + 2?
- 460
- 465
- 562
- 462
Show answer
Answer: 462. 4 hundreds, 6 tens, 2 ones make 462.
2. What is the value of the 3 in 832?
- 3000
- 300
- 30
- 3
Show answer
Answer: 30. The 3 is in the tens place, so it is worth 30.
3. What is 10 less than 847?
Show answer
Answer: 837. 10 less changes the tens digit by one: 847 − 10 = 837.
Tips for grown-ups
- Read three-digit numbers on car number plates or page numbers.
- Play place-value games with three dice: who can make the biggest number?
- Count in 50s and 100s using pretend money.