Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- 34.3 + 38.19 = ? → 72.49Prompt: Line up the decimal points.
- 65 × 9 = ? → 585Prompt: Split 65 into tens and ones: 60 + 5.
- 10.24 − 2.3 = ? → 7.94Prompt: Line up the decimal points and fill gaps with zeros.
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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.
- 1.9 × 7 = ? → 13.3Prompt: Multiply 19 × 7 as whole numbers first.
- 1.7 × 4.5 = ? → 7.65Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply the whole numbers.
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.
- 5.3 × 7 = ? → 37.1Prompt: Ignore the decimal points and multiply the whole numbers.
- Apples cost $3.95 per kilogram. How much do 4.5 kg cost? Round to the nearest cent (2 decimal places) and type the number only. → 17.78Prompt: Multiply the mass by the price per kilogram.
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