Counting and writing numbers up to 200 (progressing to 500).

Counting and Writing Numbers up to 200 (Progressing to 500)

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Lesson Objectives

  • Understand hundreds, tens, and ones place value for numbers up to 500
  • Represent 3-digit numbers using base-ten blocks (hundreds, tens, and ones)
  • Read and write numbers up to 200 in words, and recognize hundreds words up to 500
  • Count forward and continue number sequences up to 500
  • Skip count by 10s and 100s up to 500
  • Compare and order numbers up to 500 using greater than, less than, and equal to

Introduction to Counting and Writing Numbers

Now that we can count and group numbers up to 100, we are ready to count, write, and compare much bigger numbers — all the way up to 500! Big numbers are all around us: the number of pupils in a whole school, the price of items in a shop, or the number of pages in a thick storybook. To work confidently with these bigger numbers, we need a new place value column called "hundreds", and we need to practice reading, writing, and comparing numbers that have three digits.

Golden Rules for Place Value
1. Ten ones make one ten (10 ones = 1 ten).
2. Ten tens make one hundred (10 tens = 1 hundred).
3. Every number has a Hundreds place, a Tens place, and a Ones place.
4. The position of a digit tells us its value — the same digit means different amounts in different places.
Key Definitions:
• Place value: the value of a digit based on its position in a number (hundreds, tens, or ones).
• Hundred: a group of ten tens, written as 100.
• Digit: a single symbol used to write numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
• Greater than (>) / Less than (<): symbols used to compare two numbers and show which is bigger or smaller.
• Ascending / Descending order: arranging numbers from smallest to biggest (ascending) or biggest to smallest (descending).

Quick Reference: Hundreds from 100 to 500

NumeralNumber Word
100one hundred
200two hundred
300three hundred
400four hundred
500five hundred

Scroll sideways on smaller screens to view the full table.

Place Value: Hundreds, Tens, and Ones

Every number up to 500 can be broken down into hundreds, tens, and ones. A "hundred" is what we get when we have ten full groups of ten. We can show any 3-digit number using base-ten blocks: a big flat square for each hundred, a long rod for each ten, and a small square for each one.

Step-by-Step Method:
1. Count how many full hundred-flats are needed (the hundreds digit).
2. Count how many ten-rods are left over after the hundreds (the tens digit).
3. Count how many single ones are left over after the tens (the ones digit).
4. Write the digits together in order: hundreds, then tens, then ones.
1 Hundred 3 Tens 4 Ones 1 hundred + 3 tens + 4 ones = 134

One hundred-flat, three ten-rods, and four ones together make the number 134.

Example 1: Representing a Number with Base-Ten Blocks
Problem: A school has 256 pupils. How many hundred-flats, ten-rods, and ones would be needed to show this number?

Solution:
Step 1: The hundreds digit is 2, so we need 2 hundred-flats.

Step 2: The tens digit is 5, so we need 5 ten-rods.

Step 3: The ones digit is 6, so we need 6 single ones.

Answer: 2 hundreds, 5 tens, and 6 ones (200 + 50 + 6 = 256).
Watch Out!
Always read the digits of a number from left to right as hundreds, tens, then ones. Mixing up the order — for example, thinking the last digit is the hundreds — will give a completely different number.

Practice for Place Value: Hundreds, Tens, and Ones

  1. How many hundreds, tens, and ones are in the number 172?
  2. Write the number that has 3 hundreds, 4 tens, and 8 ones.
  3. A shop has 4 hundred-flats, 2 ten-rods, and 5 ones worth of items. How many items are there in total?
  4. The number 305 has how many hundreds, tens, and ones? (Hint: watch out for the zero.)
  5. Write the number that has 1 hundred, 0 tens, and 9 ones.

Reading and Writing Numbers in Words

Just as we can write numbers using digits, we can also write them using words. To write a 3-digit number in words, we say the hundreds part first, followed by "and", then the tens and ones part, just like we already learned for numbers up to 100.

Step-by-Step Method:
1. Say the hundreds digit followed by the word "hundred" (e.g., "two hundred").
2. If there are tens and ones remaining, add the word "and" after "hundred".
3. Say the tens and ones part using the number words you already know (e.g., "and forty-five").
4. Put it all together to form the full number word.
Example 2: Writing a Number in Words
Problem: Write the number 267 in words.

Solution:
Step 1: The hundreds digit is 2, so we start with "two hundred".

Step 2: There are tens and ones remaining, so we add "and".

Step 3: The tens and ones part is 67, which is "sixty-seven".

Answer: 267 = two hundred and sixty-seven
Example 3: Writing Words as a Number
Problem: Write "three hundred and forty-two" using numerals.

Solution:
Step 1: "Three hundred" tells us the hundreds digit is 3.

Step 2: "Forty" tells us the tens digit is 4.

Step 3: "Two" tells us the ones digit is 2.

Answer: three hundred and forty-two = 342
Watch Out!
When a number has no tens (like 305), we do not say "three hundred and zero five" — we simply say "three hundred and five", skipping the tens word entirely but still keeping the zero as a placeholder when writing the numeral.

Practice for Reading and Writing Numbers in Words

  1. Write the number 154 in words.
  2. Write the number 200 in words.
  3. Write "one hundred and eighteen" using numerals.
  4. Write "four hundred and sixty" using numerals.
  5. Write the number 403 in words, being careful with the missing tens.

Counting Forward and Skip Counting to 500

Counting one number at a time still works for large numbers, but it takes a long time. Skip counting — counting forward in equal jumps of 10 or 100 — lets us count much faster, and it also helps us continue a counting sequence starting from any number up to 500.

Step-by-Step Method:
1. Decide what number you are skip counting by: 10 or 100.
2. Start at 0 (or at the given starting number).
3. Add that number each time and say the new number aloud.
4. Keep going until you reach the target number, such as 500.
0 100 200 300 400 500 +100 Skip Counting by 100s to 500

Counting by 100s along the number line: 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 — each jump adds 100.

Example 4: Skip Counting by 100s
Problem: Count forward by 100s starting from 0, up to 500. Write out the sequence.

Solution:
Step 1: Start at 0 and add 100 each time: 0, 100, 200.

Step 2: Keep adding 100: 300, 400.

Step 3: Continue until reaching 500: 500.

Answer: 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500
Example 5: Continuing a Counting Sequence
Problem: Continue counting forward from 386 for five more numbers.

Solution:
Step 1: Start right after 386, adding 1 each time: 387, 388.

Step 2: Keep counting forward: 389, 390.

Step 3: Continue for one more number, crossing into the 390s: 391.

Answer: 387, 388, 389, 390, 391
Watch Out!
When skip counting by 100s, only the hundreds digit changes each time (0, 100, 200, 300...); the tens and ones stay at zero. Do not accidentally change the tens or ones digits while skip counting by 100s.

Practice for Counting Forward and Skip Counting to 500

  1. Count forward by 10s from 100 to 200. Write out the sequence.
  2. Count forward by 100s from 0 to 500. Write out the sequence.
  3. Continue counting forward from 195 for five more numbers.
  4. Continue counting forward from 298 for four more numbers.
  5. What number comes right before 400? What number comes right after 400?

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

To compare two numbers up to 500, we look at their place value columns starting from the hundreds. Whichever number has more hundreds is bigger. If the hundreds are the same, we compare the tens next, and if the tens are also the same, we compare the ones.

Step-by-Step Method:
1. Compare the hundreds digits of both numbers first.
2. If the hundreds digits are different, the number with the bigger hundreds digit is greater.
3. If the hundreds digits are the same, compare the tens digits next.
4. If the tens digits are also the same, compare the ones digits to decide.
H T O 2 3 4 234 H T O 2 4 3 243 vs Hundreds are equal (2 = 2), so compare tens: 4 > 3 243 > 234

Comparing 234 and 243: the hundreds digits are equal, so we look at the tens. Since 4 tens is more than 3 tens, 243 is greater than 234.

Example 6: Comparing Two Numbers
Problem: Compare 356 and 365. Which number is greater?

Solution:
Step 1: Compare the hundreds digits: both numbers have 3 hundreds, so they are equal so far.

Step 2: Compare the tens digits: 356 has 5 tens, while 365 has 6 tens.

Step 3: Since 6 tens is more than 5 tens, 365 is the greater number.

Answer: 365 > 356
Example 7: Ordering Three Numbers
Problem: Arrange 174, 147, and 417 in ascending order (from smallest to biggest).

Solution:
Step 1: Compare the hundreds digits: 174 and 147 both have 1 hundred, while 417 has 4 hundreds — so 417 is the biggest.

Step 2: Compare 174 and 147: both have 1 hundred, but 174 has 7 tens while 147 has 4 tens, so 147 is smaller than 174.

Step 3: Arrange from smallest to biggest: 147, then 174, then 417.

Answer: 147, 174, 417
Watch Out!
Never compare numbers just by looking at the first digit you see written on the page without checking place value carefully — always line up hundreds with hundreds, tens with tens, and ones with ones before comparing, especially when the numbers have a different number of digits.

Practice for Comparing and Ordering Numbers

  1. Compare 289 and 298. Which number is greater?
  2. Compare 410 and 401. Which number is greater?
  3. Arrange 356, 365, and 336 in ascending order.
  4. Arrange 220, 202, and 222 in descending order.
  5. Fill in the missing symbol: 178 ___ 187 (use >, <, or =).

Cumulative Practice Exercises

  1. How many hundreds, tens, and ones are in the number 246?
  2. Write the number 318 in words.
  3. Write "two hundred and seventy-one" using numerals.
  4. Count forward by 100s from 0 to 400. Write out the sequence.
  5. Continue counting forward from 249 for five more numbers.
  6. Compare 375 and 357. Which number is greater?
  7. Write the number that has 4 hundreds, 0 tens, and 6 ones.
  8. Arrange 189, 198, and 168 in ascending order.
  9. Count forward by 10s from 300 to 400. Write out the sequence.
  10. Write the number 500 in words.
  11. A shop has 3 hundred-flats, 6 ten-rods, and 2 ones worth of stock. How many items in total?
  12. Fill in the missing symbol: 405 ___ 450 (use >, <, or =).
Show/Hide Answers

Solutions to Cumulative Exercises

  1. Step 1: The hundreds digit is 2, the tens digit is 4, the ones digit is 6.
    Answer: 2 hundreds, 4 tens, 6 ones
  2. Step 1: The hundreds digit is 3, giving "three hundred".
    Step 2: The tens and ones part (18) is "eighteen".
    Answer: three hundred and eighteen
  3. Step 1: "Two hundred" gives hundreds digit 2. "Seventy" gives tens digit 7. "One" gives ones digit 1.
    Answer: 271
  4. Step 1: Starting at 0 and adding 100 each time: 0, 100, 200, 300, 400.
    Answer: 0, 100, 200, 300, 400
  5. Step 1: Counting forward from 249: 250, 251, 252, 253, 254.
    Answer: 250, 251, 252, 253, 254
  6. Step 1: Both numbers have 3 hundreds, so compare tens: 375 has 7 tens, 357 has 5 tens.
    Step 2: Since 7 tens is more than 5 tens, 375 is greater.
    Answer: 375 > 357
  7. Step 1: 4 hundreds = 400, 0 tens = 0, 6 ones = 6. Add together: 400 + 0 + 6.
    Answer: 406
  8. Step 1: All three numbers have 1 hundred, so compare tens: 189 and 198 have 8 and 9 tens; 168 has 6 tens.
    Step 2: 168 is smallest, then compare 189 and 198: 198 has 9 tens, more than 189's 8 tens.
    Answer: 168, 189, 198
  9. Step 1: Starting at 300 and adding 10 each time: 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400.
    Answer: 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400
  10. Step 1: 500 is a whole hundred, so it is simply "five hundred".
    Answer: five hundred
  11. Step 1: 3 hundreds = 300, 6 tens = 60, 2 ones = 2.
    Step 2: Add together: 300 + 60 + 2.
    Answer: 362 items
  12. Step 1: Both numbers have 4 hundreds, so compare tens: 405 has 0 tens, 450 has 5 tens.
    Step 2: Since 0 tens is less than 5 tens, 405 is less than 450.
    Answer: 405 < 450

Conclusion & Summary

In this lesson, we learned how to understand place value for hundreds, tens, and ones, how to read and write 3-digit numbers in words, how to count forward and skip count all the way to 500, and how to compare and order numbers using place value. These skills build directly on what we already know about counting to 100, and they prepare us for addition, subtraction, and even bigger numbers in the future.

Key Takeaways:
1. Place Value: every number has a hundreds, tens, and ones digit.
2. Number Words: say the hundreds first, then "and", then the tens and ones.
3. Skip Counting: counting by 10s or 100s is a fast way to count to 500.
4. Comparing Numbers: compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.

Look for 3-digit numbers around you — on buses, price tags, or house numbers — and practice reading them in words and comparing them!

Video Resource

Watch this video for a fun song about ones, tens, and hundreds place value.

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