Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes
Convert fractions to decimals
Decimals and percentages
CCSS 4.NF.C.6England: Y6 Fractions (including decimals)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Convert fractions to 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: Know decimal equivalents of 1/2, 1/4, 3/4 and tenths; Find the missing number in equivalent fractions
Leads to: Match fractions, decimals and percentages
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 (Know decimal equivalents of 1/2, 1/4, 3/4 and tenths; Find the missing number in equivalent fractions). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Write 1/4 as a decimal. → 0.25Prompt: Make an equivalent fraction with denominator 10 or 100.
- 2/3 = ?/12 → 8Prompt: What was 3 multiplied by to get 12?
- Which fraction is equal to 0.2? (1/4 / 1/2 / 3/4 / 1/5) → 1/5Prompt: Read 0.2 as tenths or hundredths.
Hook · 6 min
- Show two prices or race times with decimals and ask which is bigger, then why.
- Share the objective: Convert fractions to 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: Write 18/20 as a decimal.
- Step 1: 18/20 = 90/100
- Step 2: 0.9
- Answer: 0.9
- 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.
- Write 17/25 as a decimal. → 0.68Prompt: Make the denominator 100.
- Write 5/8 as a decimal. → 0.625Prompt: 1/8 is half of 1/4 (0.25).
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.
- Write 1/20 as a decimal. → 0.05Prompt: Make the denominator 100.
- Write 7/8 as a decimal. → 0.875Prompt: 1/8 is half of 1/4 (0.25).
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: Know decimal equivalents of 1/2, 1/4, 3/4 and 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: Match fractions, decimals and percentages.
- 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