Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
Convert decimals to fractions in simplest form
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 4.NF.C.6England: Y6 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Convert decimals to fractions in simplest form.
- 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: Decimals to thousandths; Write a fraction in its simplest form
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Decimals to thousandths; Write a fraction in its simplest form). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Write 200/1000 as a decimal. → 0.2Prompt: Thousandths need three decimal places.
- Simplify 10/14. → 5/7Prompt: Find a number that divides both the top and the bottom.
- Write as one decimal: 9 + 0.4 + 0.03 + 0.008 → 9.438Prompt: Each part gives the digit in one place.
Hook · 5 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Convert decimals to fractions in simplest form. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Write 0.7 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- Step 1: 0.7 = 7/10
- Step 2: 7/10
- Answer: 7/10
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Write 0.154 as a fraction in its simplest form. → 77/500Prompt: Thousandths: write it over 1000.
- Write 3.25 as a mixed number in simplest form. → 13/4 (3 1/4)Prompt: The whole number stays the same.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Write 3.4 as a mixed number in simplest form. → 17/5 (3 2/5)Prompt: The whole number stays the same.
- Write 0.9 as a fraction in its simplest form. → 9/10Prompt: Tenths: write it over 10.
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: Decimals to thousandths.
- 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