Sometimes dealing with decimals is so much easier than dealing with fractions. The ninth lesson in a 21-part module has the class consider situations when it might be easier to add or subtract fractions by first converting to...

Introduces addition of decimals by using unit notation to represent the problem. Pupils use a place value chart to decompose the numbers and then add before connecting to the standard algorithm. 

Take a little bit away. The 10th section of an 18-part unit introduces subtraction of decimals. Scholars use a place value chart like they did with addition of decimals to organize and represent the problem. After using the place value...

See, decimal operations do come in handy! Pupils solve word problems that require adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals. They use tape diagrams to express relationships and to identify the necessary operations to solve...

After discussing decimals and "going shopping" in the classroom, young mathematicians are given four practical word problems that require them to estimate their answers, given specific information. The highlight of the lesson is having...

What a great way to have pupils apply classroom learning to real-world skills! They complete problems involving the addition and subtraction of decimals related to banking-type questions, and then use a spreadsheet to display their results.

Reinforce the concept of fractions and decimals as part of a whole with a lesson that begins with a mixed review, then goes into a three problem guided practice, and ends with a collaborative activity. The guided practice and activity...

Fifth graders work in groups to practice adding decimals. In this adding decimals lesson, 5th graders call out different money amounts to each other and mentally add the coins called out. Students take turns calling out and adding the...

Work with the class to investigate the concept of dividing decimals. They will use a variety of problem-solving skills in order to practice the operation of division. The teacher can use the dialogue to guide learners through the various...

Is it possible to add infinitely long decimals? As pupils complete the examples in the ninth lesson of this 25-part series, they determine that adding these decimals cannot be done without error. Their task is then to determine the size...

Students explore the concept of converting a decimal to a percent. For this conversion lesson, students convert decimals to percents.

Fifth graders examine ways to save and spend money. They look at ways that people earn, save, and spend money using chapters from Tom Birdseye's Tarantula Shoes. They add and subtract decimals to fill in a worksheet entitled, "Is It a...

It's never too early to learn about grocery budgeting. Middle schoolers delve into the world of consumer math with a instructional activity that focuses on both healthy choices and real-world math applications. Groups work together to...

The 15th lesson in the series of 24 helps your classes understand the ppm (part per million) unit of measure. First, scholars experiment with food coloring to determine concentrations before applying their findings to calculate...

Students explore approximate and exact solutions. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, 6th graders will be placed in 'family groups' to create a budget that is subject to random events as chosen from the 'things happen' box....

Sixth graders create note cards to divide multi-digit whole numbers by two-digit numbers and divide decimals that represent money by whole numbers in a simpler and faster fashion. They write the rules and examples of each on the cards...

Students practice multiplying decimals and/or mixed numbers, explore the effects of multiplying decimals and mixed numbers, and practice predicting the effects of multiplying a number by a decimal or mixed number.

Boiling down any division problem to a one-digit divisor problem sure makes estimation easy. The lesson shows how to estimate division problems by using place value understanding and basic arithmetic facts to simplify the division. Some...

Mathematics aces, after a warm-up activity with some easy calculations, practice solving rules of signs and powers of 10 equations. Multiplying and dividing decimals is also covered within this lesson in depth. A variety of examples and...

Students access prior knowledge to round numbers and add decimals. In this mental math instructional activity, students share the book Betcha and calculate estimates for three jars based on the book. Students calculate money answers...

Students write math questions that pertain to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  In this math lesson, students utilize resources in the classroom to help write mathematical questions and answers that relate to the Lewis and Clark...

Third graders pictorially represent tenths place with decimal bars and add decimals in the tenths place; students use decimal bars to represent tenths and solve simple addition problems with the tenths place.

Here is one of the better lessons I've come across on how to teach fractions and decimals. This instructional activity does a great job of showing how these two mathematical representations of numbers are interrelated. Some excellent...

Add an outstanding resource to your repertoire. The first installment of a 36-part module looks at the relationship between addition and subtraction through an activity using tape diagrams. Pupils develop the identities w – x + x =...