Make a set of large cards labeled with each number, 0 to 9. Make smaller sets of these number cards for each student to have at her desk. Invite three students to the front of the classroom and give each of them one of the number cards. Call out a three-digit number, such as 826, using the numbers that the students are holding. The children must then arrange themselves to form that number. For example, the student holding the card with an 8 on it will place himself first, the student with the 2 card will stand in the middle, and the student with the 6 card will be last. Children at their desks will use their smaller set of cards to create the number as well so that all of the students are engaged in the activity. Ask the class to read the number aloud and point to the hundreds place, tens place and ones place as you call out each one.
Prepare a set of cards labeled with numbers 0 to 9 for each student. Select three numbers for students to pull out of their set of cards, such as 7, 4 and 2. Give students directions to form numbers using those digits that meet certain criteria. For example, ask them to make the largest number possible, and they should arrange their cards to say 742. If you ask them to make the smallest number possible, they will make their cards read 247. Continue with other directions, such as, "Make a number between 300 and 500." Once students make each number, ask them to read it out loud and identify the digit in each place.
Divide the class into groups of three to four students. Provide each group with a die and a recording sheet. The recording sheet should have three columns labeled with "Hundreds," "Tens" and "Ones." Players will take turns rolling the die three times. After players roll a number, they will write it in one of the columns on their recording sheet. Students may choose any column to write it in, but once the number is written it may not be changed. Once all three numbers have been written down, players will read the number they created and compare it to the rest of the players' numbers. The student with the largest number wins that round of the game.
Provide students with a set of cards labeled with the numbers 0 to 9 and select four numbers for them to pull out of their deck of cards. Ask students to arrange the cards to form two two-digit numbers that can be added together to create the largest sum possible. For example, if students are working with the numbers 2, 4, 6 and 9, they will need to determine that the numbers 94 and 62 will make the largest number when added together since those numbers have a higher value. Continue playing with different sets of four numbers.