Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes
Tenths as decimals: 0.1 to 0.9
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 4.NF.C.6England: Y4 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Tenths as decimals: 0.1 to 0.9.
- 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: Count in tenths
Leads to: Round decimals to the nearest whole number
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 (Count in tenths). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How many tenths are needed to go from 3/10 to 1 whole? → 7Prompt: 1 whole is 10/10.
- How many tenths are needed to go from 7/10 to 1 whole? → 3Prompt: 1 whole is 10/10.
- How many tenths are needed to go from 4/10 to 1 whole? → 6Prompt: 1 whole is 10/10.
Hook · 6 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Tenths as decimals: 0.1 to 0.9. 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: Sofia has 5 whole chocolate bars and 9 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal.
- Step 1: 5.9
- Answer: 5.9
- 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.
- Sam has 5 whole chocolate bars and 1 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal. → 5.1Prompt: Whole bars go before the decimal point.
- Noah has 1 whole chocolate bar and 6 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal. → 1.6Prompt: Whole bars go before the decimal point.
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.
- Priya has 5 whole chocolate bars and 1 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal. → 5.1Prompt: Whole bars go before the decimal point.
- Daniel has 4 whole chocolate bars and 6 tenths of another. Write the amount as a decimal. → 4.6Prompt: Whole bars go before the decimal point.
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: Count in tenths.
- 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: Round decimals to the nearest whole number.
- 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-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder