Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes
Multiply multi-digit decimals
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 6.NS.B.3England: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiply multi-digit 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: Multiply 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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Multiply decimals). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 4 × 3 = ? → 12Prompt: Multiply 40 × 3 as whole numbers first.
- 8.6 × 4.8 = ? → 41.28Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply the whole numbers.
- Apples cost $3.86 per kilogram. How much do 1.2 kg cost? Round to the nearest cent (2 decimal places) and type the number only. → 4.63Prompt: Multiply the mass by the price per kilogram.
Hook · 6 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Multiply multi-digit decimals. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Work out 2.9 × 5.6.
- Step 1: 29 × 56 = 1624
- Step 2: 2 decimal places: 16.24
- Answer: 16.24
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Work out 5.1 × 2.9. → 14.79Prompt: Multiply 51 × 29 as whole numbers.
- Work out 3.16 × 0.8. → 2.528Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Work out 5.35 × 0.3. → 1.605Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply.
- Work out 7.6 × 8.2. → 62.32Prompt: Multiply 76 × 82 as whole numbers.
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 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-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder