Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Compare and order decimals
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 4.NF.C.7CCSS 5.NBT.A.3.BEngland: Y4 Fractions (including decimals)England: Y5 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Compare and order decimals.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Tenths and hundredths as decimals
Leads to: Decimals to thousandths; Compare decimals to thousandths
Materials: Place value chart with tenths and hundredths, Hundred squares, Number lines, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Tenths and hundredths as decimals). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What is the value of the digit 2 in 3.82? → 0.02Prompt: Name the places: ones . tenths hundredths.
- What is the value of the digit 3 in 9.37? → 0.3Prompt: Name the places: ones . tenths hundredths.
- What is the value of the digit 5 in 6.55? → 0.5Prompt: Name the places: ones . tenths hundredths.
Hook · 3 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Compare and order decimals. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Choose the sign: 3.4 __ 3.16
- Step 1: 3.40 > 3.16
- Step 2: 3.4 > 3.16
- Answer: >
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Choose the sign: 2.3 __ 2.47 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Write both with the same number of decimal places.
- Choose the sign: 3.2 __ 3.25 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Write both with the same number of decimal places.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Choose the sign: 2.5 __ 2.78 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Write both with the same number of decimal places.
- Choose the sign: 2.5 __ 2.8 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Write both with the same number of decimal places.
Watch out for
- Thinking 0.45 is bigger than 0.5 because 45 is bigger than 5.
- Moving the digits the wrong way when multiplying or dividing by 10.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Tenths and hundredths as decimals.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart with tenths and hundredths.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Decimals to thousandths; Compare decimals to thousandths.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder