Place value can be taught in a visual way by creating number strings, which are made out of string and colorful beads. Tie a knot on one end of a piece of string, then thread ten beads of the same color onto the string. Tie a knot in the string again and thread on another ten beads of the same color as before. Repeat this ten times using the same color of beads. Next, thread on ten beads of a different color, knotting the string afterward. Repeat this until you have five sets of ten using the second color of beads. Knot the string afterward. Thread on five to seven beads, all of different colors. The first set of beads will be the hundreds place, the second set will be the tens place, and the individual beads will represent the ones place.
Children can learn to tell time much easier by making their own clock out of a paper plate. Have each child place a paper plate onto a flat surface. Each child should write the number 12 at the top, then work her way around the plate writing in the numbers on a clock. Cut out two arrows from yellow construction paper, one longer than the other. Insert a brass brad into the flat ends of the arrows, then attach the hands to the middle of the plate. Open and flatten the ends of the brad on the back of the plate. The students can now rotate the hands of the paper plate clock to different times of the day.
Young children can learn to count by making a counting caterpillar out of paper cups. Start by cutting out the bottoms from twenty paper cups, then write the numbers 1 through 20 inside the bottoms. Glue the paper cup bottoms in numerical order onto a piece of paper, and draw on caterpillar antenna and legs.