We the Travellers — I
Class 5 · Mathematics
4 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Reading and Writing Numbers up to 5 Digits
Part of: Reading and writing large numbers
When we collect ten thousands, we get one ten thousand, written 10,000. A 5-digit number has places for ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. For example, 23,405 is read as twenty-three thousand four hundred five.
Why it matters. Large numbers appear in distances, prices and populations. Children who read them place by place do not mix up zeros or drop digits.
Try it in two minutes
- Write 5 boxes on paper and label them ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, ones.
- Put the digits of 36,082 in the boxes and ask your child to read it aloud.
- Change one digit and ask how the number name changes.
- Ask what number comes right after 9999.
Try at home. Ask your child to find a 5-digit number on a bill, a bus ticket or a newspaper and read it aloud.
Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers
Part of: Comparing and breaking up numbers
To compare two numbers, first count the digits: the one with more digits is bigger. If the digit counts match, compare digit by digit from the left. So 61,380 is bigger than 61,083 because at the hundreds place 3 is more than 0.
Why it matters. Comparing prices, distances and populations needs this skill. Without it children compare only the first digit and make mistakes.
Try it in two minutes
- Write 48,200 and 9,850 on paper. Ask which is bigger and why.
- Write 52,430 and 52,340. Ask your child to point to the first place where they differ.
- Give four 5-digit numbers and ask for them from smallest to biggest.
Try at home. Ask your child to compare the prices of two things in a catalogue and say which costs more.
Place Value and Expanded Form
Part of: Comparing and breaking up numbers
Every number is the sum of its place values. For example, 6047 is 6000 + 40 + 7. We can also ask how many tens are in a number: 540 is 54 tens, because 54 groups of 10 make 540.
Why it matters. Expanded form shows what each digit is worth. It helps with adding, subtracting and with understanding money notes.
Try it in two minutes
- Take a number such as 4,306 and ask your child to say what each digit is worth.
- Write it as 4000 + 300 + 6 together.
- Ask: how many ₹100 notes would you need for ₹ 4,300?
Try at home. Give your child an amount like ₹ 2,860 and ask how many notes of ₹100 and ₹10 make it.
Rounding to the Nearest 10, 100 and 1000
Part of: Nearest tens, hundreds and thousands
Rounding finds the closest friendly number. On a number line, 4763 sits between 4760 and 4770, and it is closer to 4760, so the nearest ten is 4760. In the same way we can look for the nearest hundred or thousand.
Why it matters. Rounding helps with quick estimates, like a rough bill or distance, and with checking an answer for sense.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a line with 2400 and 2500 at the ends, and mark 2461 on it.
- Ask: which end is it closer to?
- Do the same for the nearest ten and the nearest thousand of 2461.
Try at home. Ask your child to round the price of two things in a shop to the nearest ten and say a rough total.
What your child will practise
- Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers: Desert Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers: Treasure Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Place Value and Expanded Form: Jungle Quest (Flip and Match)
- Reading and Writing Numbers up to 5 Digits: Desert Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Rounding to the Nearest 10, 100 and 1000: Jungle Sort (Sort It Out)
- Quiz: Comparing and Ordering Large Numbers (8 questions)
- Quiz: Place Value and Expanded Form (8 questions)
- Quiz: Reading and Writing Numbers up to 5 Digits (8 questions)
- Quiz: Rounding to the Nearest 10, 100 and 1000 (8 questions)