Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Decimal multiplication and division problems
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 5.NBT.B.7England: Y6 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Decimal multiplication and division problems.
- 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: Multiply a decimal by a whole number; Divide a decimal by a whole number
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 (Multiply a decimal by a whole number; Divide a decimal by a whole number). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 9.1 × 6 = ? → 54.6Prompt: Work out 91 × 6 first.
- 48 ÷ 5 = ? → 9.6Prompt: Divide as if it were a whole number.
- A bus ticket costs $1.70. Kofi buys 7 tickets. What is the total cost? → 11.9Prompt: Multiply 1.70 by 7.
Hook · 3 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Decimal multiplication and division problems. 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: Apples cost $4 per kilogram. How much do 0.4 kg cost?
- Step 1: 0.4 × 4 = 1.6
- Step 2: $1.60
- Answer: 1.6
- 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.
- Apples cost $3 per kilogram. How much do 1.5 kg cost? → 4.5Prompt: Multiply 1.5 by 3.
- A 18.8 m plank is cut into 4 equal pieces. How long is each piece? → 4.7Prompt: Divide 18.8 by 4.
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.
- Apples cost $3 per kilogram. How much do 2.5 kg cost? → 7.5Prompt: Multiply 2.5 by 3.
- A 4.8 m plank is cut into 4 equal pieces. How long is each piece? → 1.2Prompt: Divide 4.8 by 4.
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: Multiply a decimal by a whole number.
- 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