Decimal Dash Script

Warm-Up: Quick Review (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, mathematicians! Today we're going on a 'Decimal Dash' to boost our multiplication skills. To get our brains warmed up, let's start with a quick mental math problem."

(Display Decimal Dash Slides - Slide 2)

"Look at the screen: What is 0.5 x 4? Take a moment to think about it quietly. How would you solve this?"

(Pause for student thinking, then call on a few students to share their answers and strategies.)

"Great thinking! I heard some of you thinking about 5 x 4 being 20, and then realizing 0.5 is half, so half of 4 is 2. Others might have thought, if I have 4 groups of 0.5, that's like having four halves, which makes two wholes. Both excellent ways to get to 2!"

"Remember, when we multiply decimals, we primarily do two things: First, we multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers. Second, we count the total number of decimal places in our original factors, and that's how many decimal places will be in our product. Let's keep that in mind as we move forward."

Introduce Decimal Dash Station (5 minutes)

(Display Decimal Dash Slides - Slide 4)

"Alright, team! Today, we're going to dive into our 'Decimal Dash' fluency station. This is your chance to really solidify your skills in multiplying decimals. I'm handing out the Decimal Dash Worksheet now. Take a look."

*(Distribute Decimal Dash Worksheet.)

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to complete the problems on this worksheet. You'll be working independently, focusing on getting accurate answers first, and then trying to build your speed. Think of it like a race where accuracy is even more important than speed!"

"Once you've completed all the problems, you'll grab a copy of the Decimal Dash Answer Key and check your own work. This is a great opportunity for self-assessment. Don't just copy the answers; really understand where you might have made a mistake. Did you forget to count decimal places? Did you make a multiplication error? This is how we learn!"

"Any questions before we start our dash?"

Independent Practice: Decimal Dash (15 minutes)

"Fantastic! You have 15 minutes to complete your Decimal Dash. Remember to show your work and take your time to be accurate. If you finish early, you can go back and double-check your work, or even create a few more decimal multiplication problems for yourself!"

(Circulate around the room. Offer help and encouragement. Ask guiding questions like:)

• "How are you deciding where to place the decimal point?"
• "Can you estimate your answer before you multiply to see if your product makes sense? For example, if you have 3.2 x 5, you know it should be a little more than 3 x 5, which is 15."
• "What strategy are you using to keep your work organized?"

Check Your Dash! (5 minutes)

(After 15 minutes of independent practice, transition students to checking their work.)

"Time to pause our dash! If you haven't already, please grab the Decimal Dash Answer Key. Carefully go through your worksheet and compare your answers to the key. Circle any problems you got incorrect."

(Display Decimal Dash Slides - Slide 5)

"Once you've checked your work, I want you to briefly reflect. Look at the problems you circled. Was there a common mistake? Did you forget to count decimal places? Did you miscalculate a basic multiplication fact? Think about what you did well and what was tricky."

(Allow a few minutes for students to check and reflect.)

"Alright, let's quickly share. Without going into individual scores, what was one thing you noticed about your work or a common mistake you might have made?"

(Call on a few students to share their reflections.)

Cool Down / Wrap-Up (Cool Down - not specifically a cool-down material) (0 minutes in this script, but 5 in lesson plan)

(Display Decimal Dash Slides - Slide 6)

"Excellent work today, everyone! You all took on the Decimal Dash challenge and showed great effort in building your fluency. Why is this skill important? How might you use multiplying decimals outside of math class?"

(Listen to student responses, reinforcing the real-world connections.)

"Keep practicing these skills, and you'll be decimal masters in no time!"

Decimal Dash Worksheet

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

Instructions: Multiply the decimals. Show your work! Remember to count your decimal places carefully.

Section 1: Decimal by Whole Number

1. 0.7 x 8 =
   
   
   
   

2. 1.2 x 5 =
   
   
   
   

3. 0.06 x 9 =
   
   
   
   

4. 15 x 0.3 =
   
   
   
   

5. 2.4 x 6 =
   
   
   
   

Section 2: Decimal by Decimal

6. 0.3 x 0.4 =
   
   
   
   

7. 1.5 x 0.2 =
   
   
   
   

8. 0.08 x 0.7 =
   
   
   
   

9. 2.1 x 0.05 =
   
   
   
   

10. 0.11 x 0.6 =
    
    
    
    

Challenge Round!

11. A recipe calls for 0.75 cups of sugar. If you want to make 3 batches of the recipe, how much sugar do you need?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

12. A car travels at a speed of 65.5 miles per hour. How far will it travel in 0.5 hours?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Decimal Dash Answer Key

Section 1: Decimal by Whole Number

1. 0.7 x 8 = 5.6

   • Thought Process: Multiply 7 x 8 = 56. There is one decimal place in 0.7, and zero in 8. So, place one decimal place in the product: 5.6.

2. 1.2 x 5 = 6.0 (or 6)

   • Thought Process: Multiply 12 x 5 = 60. There is one decimal place in 1.2, and zero in 5. So, place one decimal place in the product: 6.0.

3. 0.06 x 9 = 0.54

   • Thought Process: Multiply 6 x 9 = 54. There are two decimal places in 0.06, and zero in 9. So, place two decimal places in the product: 0.54.

4. 15 x 0.3 = 4.5

   • Thought Process: Multiply 15 x 3 = 45. There is one decimal place in 0.3, and zero in 15. So, place one decimal place in the product: 4.5.

5. 2.4 x 6 = 14.4

   • Thought Process: Multiply 24 x 6 = 144. There is one decimal place in 2.4, and zero in 6. So, place one decimal place in the product: 14.4.

Section 2: Decimal by Decimal

6. 0.3 x 0.4 = 0.12

   • Thought Process: Multiply 3 x 4 = 12. There is one decimal place in 0.3 and one in 0.4, for a total of two decimal places. So, place two decimal places in the product: 0.12.

7. 1.5 x 0.2 = 0.30 (or 0.3)

   • Thought Process: Multiply 15 x 2 = 30. There is one decimal place in 1.5 and one in 0.2, for a total of two decimal places. So, place two decimal places in the product: 0.30.

8. 0.08 x 0.7 = 0.056

   • Thought Process: Multiply 8 x 7 = 56. There are two decimal places in 0.08 and one in 0.7, for a total of three decimal places. So, place three decimal places in the product: 0.056.

9. 2.1 x 0.05 = 0.105

   • Thought Process: Multiply 21 x 5 = 105. There is one decimal place in 2.1 and two in 0.05, for a total of three decimal places. So, place three decimal places in the product: 0.105.

10. 0.11 x 0.6 = 0.066

    • Thought Process: Multiply 11 x 6 = 66. There are two decimal places in 0.11 and one in 0.6, for a total of three decimal places. So, place three decimal places in the product: 0.066.

Challenge Round!

11. A recipe calls for 0.75 cups of sugar. If you want to make 3 batches of the recipe, how much sugar do you need?

    • Answer: 2.25 cups of sugar
    • Thought Process: Multiply 0.75 x 3.
      • First, multiply 75 x 3 = 225.
      • Count decimal places: 0.75 has two decimal places, 3 has zero. Total = 2.
      • Place the decimal: 2.25

12. A car travels at a speed of 65.5 miles per hour. How far will it travel in 0.5 hours?

    • Answer: 32.75 miles
    • Thought Process: Multiply 65.5 x 0.5.
      • First, multiply 655 x 5 = 3275.
      • Count decimal places: 65.5 has one decimal place, 0.5 has one. Total = 2.
      • Place the decimal: 32.75