Place Value Of Decimals

Objectives

To understand that decimals, like fractions, are parts of a whole.

To be able to work with decimals on a number line.

Resources

Abacus 4 Textbook 2 | Scanner or copier | Squared paper | Decimals on a Numberline (MyMaths)

Today's Lesson

Main Activity

As a mental warm up for the lesson, think of a number that is divisible exactly by a smaller number. Ask your student to break down the number into fractions.

For example:

45 - break it down into fifths: 1/5 of 45 is ____, 2/5 of 45 is ____ etc.

Repeat this for another four or five numbers, e.g. 36, 20, 42, 30, 33.

Turn to page 54 in Abacus 4 Textbook 2.

Discuss the value of the tagged places on the number lines with your student. Help them to draw the number lines and ask them to indicate where each of the decimal numbers will appear on the line.

Next, look at the second section together. Discuss the example of the number line with your student and of how to get to the next whole number. Once you feel that your student understands the concept, ask them to draw the number lines and to mark the specified points on the lines to see ‘how much more’ to the next whole number.

Talk about the ‘Think’ section with your student. If necessary, write the answers down, so that your student can establish the pattern.

Extra Activities

You might like to try the homework activity on the My Portal section of MyMaths to practise this skill further.

MyMaths Homework - Decimal number lines

Citations

[1] app.mymaths.co.uk [2] app.mymaths.co.uk