Exploration Stations: Decimals
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With your partner, visit each of the different stations. Play each game & explore each
activity.
Record ideas, extensions and additional explanations you want to remember about each of the stations.
Be prepared to share your thoughts & experiences at the end of the session.
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Station
Close to 1!
Make a Square
Disappear
Number Line
Race for a Square
Spin to Win/Compare
Tell Me- Show Me
Things I Want to Remember
Exploration Stations
Close to 1! With your partner, take turns rolling one die. For each roll, place the number rolled in one
of the 4 spaces on the Close to 1! Sheet, deciding which location would be most beneficial for reaching
a total of 1. After four rolls, add the decimal numbers together and record the sum in the blank.
Determine the score for that round by figuring out the difference between the sum of the two numbers
and 1. At the end of five rounds, each player totals the score. The lowest score wins.
Make a Square Disappear: Each partner needs a place value mat with a square (=1) placed on it.
With your partner, take turns rolling one die. Each player rolls a number, takes that many unit squares
on his or her place value mat away, and makes all possible trades. The game continues until one player
has removed all unit squares.
Number Line: Spread the digit cards 0-9 out in front of you and your partner. Using the decimal
work mat, Partner A calls out a decimal number to Partner B. Using the digit cards, Partner B makes
the decimal number. After making the number, Partner B tells Partner A the value of each digit.
Reverse roles and repeat.
Race for a Square: With your partner, take turns rolling one die. Each player rolls a die, places that
many unit squares on his or her place value mat, and makes all possible trades. The game continues
until one player has enough to make a square = 1.
Spin to Win/Compare: With your partner, take turns spinning the spinner. For each spin, place each
number in one of the five game circles on your Spin to Win sheets with the goal of trying to make the
number as close to “1” as possible. After 5 spins, compare your number with your partner. The one
closest to “1” wins.
Tell Me- Show Me:
Variation A-Tell Me: Partner A shows unit squares to Partner B and asks, “How many do you see?”
Partner B tells Partner A the amount. Then, Partner A selects a unit and adds it to the existing amount.
Partner A asks Partner B “How many do you see?; What is the place-value name of this number?”;
“What is the standards base-ten name of this number?” Partner B tells Partner A the amounts. Partner
A asks Partner B: “Show me 3 different ways to make this same amount.” Partner B makes the 3
different ways and tells Partner A each amount in various ways. Last, Partner A asks Partner B to write
the amount on a piece of paper. Then, reverse roles and repeat.
Variation B- Show Me: Partner A asks Partner B, “Use the blocks to show me (a 2-digit decimal
number).” Partner B uses the blocks to create the number given. Partner A asks Partner B, “Now show
me the decimal number in a different way”. Reverse roles and repeat.
Variation C- Compare: Partner A names two decimal numbers and asks Partner B to show both
numbers on the place value mat. Then, Partner B compares the numbers and describes the relationship
between them. Reverse roles and repeat.
Variation D- Compare: Partner A names three numbers and asks Partner B to show the 3 decimal
numbers and order them from greatest to least.