All the Kings Tens (Sir Cumference) | Y3 Place Value Booklist

All the King's Tens
Sir Cumference Math Adventures

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens is a picture book from the Charlesbridge Math Adventures series, designed to introduce mathematical ideas through fun stories. In this instalment, Sir Cumference and Lady Di plan a surprise birthday party for King Arthur, only to be overwhelmed as more and more guests arrive. The challenge? Figuring out how many people need to be fed at the feast.

To solve the problem, Sir Cumference, Lady Di, and their son Radius try different strategies for counting the crowd. Eventually, they discover that grouping guests into tens, hundreds, and thousands makes counting much faster and easier. This clever use of place value is woven into the story, helping young readers understand the concept in a memorable way. The book uses humour, wordplay, and lively illustrations to make math accessible and enjoyable for children, showing how math can be part of everyday adventures.

Each book in the Charlesbridge Math Adventures series uses storytelling to make mathematical concepts clear and relatable for children. Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens not only entertains but also encourages a positive attitude toward math by showing it as an essential and fun part of life. The illustrations add to the experience, helping children visualise and understand the math being taught.

This series is a valuable resource for teachers and parents who want to blend math and literacy, supporting both numeracy and reading skills in an engaging way.

Author: Cindy Neuschwander

Cindy Neuschwander, the author of the Sir Cumference series, is an experienced elementary school teacher dedicated to making math engaging for children. Inspired by her visits to medieval castles in England, she combines mathematical concepts with storytelling, humour, and puns. In addition to the Sir Cumference books, she has written other educational titles such as Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry and Patterns in Peru, all aimed at helping young readers develop confidence and enjoyment in math.

Book Details:

Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Format: Paperback
Print length: 32 pages
Dimensions: 21.74 x 0.33 x 24.13 cm
Reading age: 6-8 years old
Publication date: 1 July 2009
ISBN: 978-1570917288

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How does All the King's Tens help teach place value to Year Two students?

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens is an effective tool for teaching place value to Year Two students by combining storytelling, visual representation, and interactive learning. Here’s how the book supports the development of place value understanding:

Storytelling and Context

The story immerses students in a medieval adventure, making mathematical ideas more engaging and memorable. By following Sir Cumference and Radius as they count guests for a royal celebration, children see how numbers and grouping are used in real-life contexts, which helps them relate to the concept of place value.

Visual Representation

The book uses illustrations and scenarios—such as grouping guests into different sized tents—to visually demonstrate how numbers are built from tens and ones. This approach helps students grasp the idea that numbers are made up of groups, reinforcing the structure of place value in a concrete, accessible way.

Character Names and Word Play

Clever character names like Sir Cumference and Radius introduce mathematical vocabulary in a playful manner. This wordplay makes key concepts more memorable and helps students connect the characters' adventures to mathematical principles.

Hands-On Learning

The narrative can be extended with hands-on activities such as using base ten blocks or manipulatives to represent numbers as the story progresses. This combination of reading and practical exploration helps solidify abstract ideas like tens and ones through concrete experiences.

Encouraging Mathematical Thinking

Throughout the book, students are prompted to think about numbers as quantities made up of parts, not just symbols. This aligns with Year Two learning objectives, where understanding the value of each digit in a two-digit number (tens and ones) is essential for building a strong foundation in maths.

In summary, Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens makes place value accessible and enjoyable for Year Two students by blending storytelling, visual aids, and opportunities for hands-on learning. It is a valuable resource for both classroom and home use, supporting children as they develop confidence and fluency with numbers.