Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Subtract a decimal from a whole number
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 5.NBT.B.7England: Y5 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Subtract a decimal from a whole number.
- 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: Add and subtract decimals
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
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 (Add and subtract decimals). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 72.8 + 89.74 = ? → 162.54Prompt: Line up the decimal points.
- 11.65 − 3.6 = ? → 8.05Prompt: Line up the decimal points and fill gaps with zeros.
- 20.3 + 34.31 = ? → 54.61Prompt: Line up the decimal points.
Hook · 3 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Subtract a decimal from a whole number. 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: 2 − 1.42 = ?
- Step 1: 2.00 − 1.42 = 0.58
- Answer: 0.58
- 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.
- 13 − 8.29 = ? → 4.71Prompt: Write 13 as 13.00.
- Liam pays for a snack costing $9.26 with a $10 note. How much change does Liam get? → 0.74Prompt: Change = money given − price.
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.
- 4 − 3.78 = ? → 0.22Prompt: Write 4 as 4.00.
- Mateo pays for a snack costing $0.54 with a $1 coin. How much change does Mateo get? → 0.46Prompt: Change = money given − price.
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: Add and subtract 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
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder