Lesson Plan
Decimal Dash! Lesson Plan
Students will be able to read, write, and compare decimals to the thousandths place, and apply this knowledge to solve problems.
Decimals are everywhere, from prices at the store to sports scores! Understanding them helps us make sense of the world around us and builds a strong foundation for future math.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive instruction, guided practice, and a quick check for understanding.
Materials
- Decimal Dash! Slide Deck, - Decimal Detective Worksheet, - Decimal Detective Answer Key, - Whiteboards or scratch paper, and - Markers or pencils
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Decimal Dash! Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content and teacher notes.
- Print copies of the Decimal Detective Worksheet and Decimal Detective Answer Key for each student.
- Ensure whiteboards and markers (or scratch paper and pencils) are available for all students.
- Confirm projector and computer are working for the slide deck presentation.
Step 1
Introduction: The Decimal Dilemma (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display Slide 1: Title Slide and greet students.
- Use Slide 2: The Decimal Dilemma to engage students with a real-world scenario. Ask students: "When have you seen decimals outside of math class?" Allow a few student responses.
- Introduce the lesson objective using Slide 3: Our Goal Today.
Step 2
Understanding Decimals (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Use Slide 4: What Are Decimals? to explain decimals as parts of a whole.
- Guide students through Slide 5: Place Value Power, focusing on tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. Use the script to explain each place value.
- Practice reading and writing decimals with Slide 6: Read It, Write It. Have students practice on whiteboards or scratch paper. Provide immediate feedback.
- Explain comparing decimals using Slide 7: Comparing Decimals, emphasizing lining up decimal points and comparing from left to right.
Step 3
Decimal Detective Activity (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Distribute the Decimal Detective Worksheet.
- Explain the instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to solve the problems, which involve reading, writing, and comparing decimals.
- Circulate the room, providing support and answering questions as students work.
- After 7 minutes, bring the class back together to quickly review some answers using the Decimal Detective Answer Key. Focus on common misconceptions.
Step 4
Cool Down & Wrap-up (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Distribute the Cool Down: Decimal Check-in.
- Have students complete the cool-down independently.
- Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket to assess understanding.
- Conclude the lesson by reiterating the importance of decimals in everyday life.
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Slide Deck
Decimal Dash!
Your Race to Understanding Decimals!
Welcome students and set an energetic tone. Briefly introduce the topic of decimals and how they are important in everyday life. Mention that this lesson will be a 'dash' to master them!
The Decimal Dilemma
Where do we see decimals in the real world?
- Money?
- Sports?
- Measurements?
Ask students to think about where they encounter decimals in their daily lives. Prompt with examples like money, sports scores, or measurements. Encourage a few students to share their ideas to spark interest.
Our Goal Today
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Read decimals to the thousandths place.
- Write decimals to the thousandths place.
- Compare decimals to the thousandths place.
Clearly state the lesson's learning objective. Explain that by the end of this 'dash,' they'll be masters of reading, writing, and comparing decimals up to the thousandths place.
What Are Decimals?
Decimals are numbers that represent parts of a whole.
They live between whole numbers on the number line.
Define what a decimal is in simple terms: a way to show parts of a whole. Use the example of a whole pizza and slices to illustrate this concept visually or verbally.
Place Value Power
To the right of the decimal point, we have:
- Tenths (1 digit after the decimal, e.g., 0.1)
- Hundredths (2 digits after the decimal, e.g., 0.01)
- Thousandths (3 digits after the decimal, e.g., 0.001)
Introduce the decimal place values. Start from the decimal point and move to the right: tenths, hundredths, thousandths. Emphasize the 'th' sound. Give a simple example for each, e.g., 0.1, 0.01, 0.001.
Read It, Write It!
How do we say these decimals?
- 0.7
- 0.25
- 0.009
How do we write 'two tenths'? 'Fifty-six hundredths'? 'One hundred four thousandths'?
Provide examples and have students practice reading and writing. For instance, '0.45' is 'forty-five hundredths.' '0.123' is 'one hundred twenty-three thousandths.' Use whiteboards for quick checks.
Comparing Decimals
Which is greater? 0.45 or 0.5?
Strategy:
- Line up the decimal points.
- Add zeros so both numbers have the same number of decimal places.
- Compare from left to right!
Explain the strategy for comparing decimals: 1. Line up the decimal points. 2. Add zeros if needed to have the same number of decimal places. 3. Compare from left to right, just like whole numbers. Provide examples like 0.5 vs 0.500.
Compare Practice!
Use <, >, or = to compare:
- 0.7 _____ 0.70
- 0.34 _____ 0.339
- 1.25 _____ 1.3
Present a few comparison problems. Have students work them out quickly before revealing the answers. Encourage them to explain their reasoning.
Decimal Detective Activity
Time to put on your detective hats!
You'll get a worksheet to practice reading, writing, and comparing decimals. Work carefully and show your thinking!
Introduce the worksheet activity. Explain that students will apply what they've learned. Remind them to show their work and read questions carefully. Transition to independent or pair work.
Cool Down: Decimal Check-in
A quick check to see what you learned today!
Complete the 'Decimal Check-in' independently. This helps me understand what you've mastered.
Explain that this is their 'exit ticket.' It's a quick, independent task to see what they've understood. Reassure them it's to help the teacher understand their learning.
Worksheet
Decimal Detective Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Part 1: Read and Write Decimals
Read the decimal and write it in word form, or read the word form and write it as a decimal.
-
0.6
-
Two hundredths
-
0.81
-
One hundred thirty-five thousandths
-
0.073
Part 2: Compare the Decimals
Use <, >, or = to compare the following decimals.
-
0.4 _____ 0.40
-
0.15 _____ 0.105
-
0.89 _____ 0.9
-
2.305 _____ 2.35
-
0.007 _____ 0.070
Part 3: Order Up!
Order the following decimals from least to greatest.
-
0.5, 0.05, 0.55
-
0.123, 0.132, 0.103
Answer Key
Decimal Detective Answer Key
Part 1: Read and Write Decimals
-
0.6
- Thought Process: The 6 is in the tenths place, so we read it as "six tenths."
- Answer: Six tenths
-
Two hundredths
- Thought Process: Hundredths means two decimal places. "Two" goes in the hundredths place. So, 0.02.
- Answer: 0.02
-
0.81
- Thought Process: The 8 is in the tenths place and the 1 is in the hundredths place. We read the number as if it were a whole number (eighty-one) and then state the place value of the last digit (hundredths).
- Answer: Eighty-one hundredths
-
One hundred thirty-five thousandths
- Thought Process: Thousandths means three decimal places. "One hundred thirty-five" fills those places. So, 0.135.
- Answer: 0.135
-
0.073
- Thought Process: The 0 is in the tenths, 7 in the hundredths, and 3 in the thousandths. We read the number after the decimal (seventy-three) and state the place value of the last digit (thousandths).
- Answer: Seventy-three thousandths
Part 2: Compare the Decimals
Use <, >, or = to compare the following decimals.
-
0.4 _____ 0.40
- Thought Process: Adding a zero to the end of a decimal does not change its value. 0.4 is equivalent to 0.40.
- Answer: 0.4 = 0.40
-
0.15 _____ 0.105
- Thought Process: Line up the decimals: 0.150 vs 0.105. Compare from left to right. The tenths place is the same (1). In the hundredths place, 5 is greater than 0.
- Answer: 0.15 > 0.105
-
0.89 _____ 0.9
- Thought Process: Line up the decimals: 0.89 vs 0.90. Compare from left to right. The tenths place shows 8 vs 9. Since 9 is greater than 8, 0.9 is greater.
- Answer: 0.89 < 0.9
-
2.305 _____ 2.35
- Thought Process: Line up the decimals: 2.305 vs 2.350. The ones and tenths places are the same. In the hundredths place, 0 is less than 5.
- Answer: 2.305 < 2.35
-
0.007 _____ 0.070
- Thought Process: Line up the decimals. The tenths place is the same (0). In the hundredths place, 0 is less than 7.
- Answer: 0.007 < 0.070
Part 3: Order Up!
Order the following decimals from least to greatest.
-
0.5, 0.05, 0.55
- Thought Process: Convert all to thousandths for easier comparison: 0.500, 0.050, 0.550. Ordering these gives 0.050, 0.500, 0.550.
- Answer: 0.05, 0.5, 0.55
-
0.123, 0.132, 0.103
- Thought Process: All are already in thousandths. Compare from left to right. The tenths place is all 1. In the hundredths place, 0 is the smallest, then 2, then 3.
- Answer: 0.103, 0.123, 0.132
Cool Down
Cool Down: Decimal Check-in
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
-
Write the decimal "thirty-six thousandths" in standard form.
-
Read the following decimal aloud and then write it in word form: 0.142
-
Use <, >, or = to compare the following decimals:
0.7 _____ 0.701
-
Order the following decimals from least to greatest:
0.8, 0.08, 0.88