Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Multiply decimals
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 5.NBT.B.7CCSS 6.NS.B.3England: Y6 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiply 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: Add and subtract decimals; Multiply by a one-digit number
Leads to: Divide decimals; Circumference of a circle; Place the decimal point in a product
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; Multiply by a one-digit number). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 76.4 + 97.06 = ? → 173.46Prompt: Line up the decimal points.
- 47 × 8 = ? → 376Prompt: Split 47 into tens and ones: 40 + 7.
- 12.76 − 1.2 = ? → 11.56Prompt: Line up the decimal points and fill gaps with zeros.
Hook · 3 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Multiply 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: 9.6 × 7 = ?
- Step 1: 96 × 7 = 672
- Step 2: 9.6 × 7 = 67.2
- Answer: 67.2
- 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.
- 4.1 × 9 = ? → 36.9Prompt: Multiply 41 × 9 as whole numbers first.
- 8 × 4.1 = ? → 32.8Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply the whole numbers.
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.
- 6.3 × 8.6 = ? → 54.18Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply the whole numbers.
- 6.3 × 2 = ? → 12.6Prompt: Multiply 63 × 2 as whole numbers first.
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
- Move on to: Divide decimals; Circumference of a circle; Place the decimal point in a product.
- 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