Grades 4-6
Number &
Operations
Place Value of
Decimal Numbers
Objective: To use decimal notation
for tenths, hundredths,
and thousandths.
Name the different parts of this decimal number.
346.745
Press for
answers
Recognizing digits in decimal numbers
Press the image to open the
"Decimal positions" quiz.
The decimal dice game
Press here for
suggestions for the
dice template
Roll your number dice to get a whole number with decimals.
Record the number in a table.
Roll your digit position dice to get a digit position. Record the
position in your table.
Write down the digit that is in this position in your whole
number.
Number
Digit position
Digit
329.769
100ths
6
890.230
1s
0
Suggestions for the dice template
digit
position
dice 1
Press here to return
to the main activity
page
digit
position
dice 2
643.917
130.598 105.504 653.189
10ths
1s
100.056
10ths
100ths
1000ths
10ths
100ths 1000ths
539.472
100s
1000ths
number dice
100ths
10s
Press the image to open
the "Decimal positions
assessment" quiz.
Back to
Title Page
100s
10s
1s
346.745
10ths
Back
100ths
1000ths
Place Value of Decimal Numbers
Learning objective
Before You Start
• Use decimal
notation for tenths,
hundredths, and
thousandths.
Use the blank “Dice Template” (p. 58) to create three dice for each group—one die with
the digit positions 10ths, 100ths, and 1000ths (use 1s, 10s, 100s, 10ths, 100ths, and
1000ths for the higher-ability groups) and two dice with various numbers with up to
three decimal places, differentiated to each group’s ability. See page 5 of the “Place
Value of Decimal Numbers” Notebook file for suggestions for the dice template.
Math Lessons for the SMART Board: Grades 4–6 © 2011, Scholastic
Resources
• “Place Value of
Decimal Numbers”
Notebook file
• “Dice Template”
(p. 58)
• individual
whiteboards
and pens
• writing materials
Whiteboard tools
• Pen tray
• Select tool
• Highlighter pen
Getting Started
Organize students into mixed-ability groups. Display page 2 of the “Place Value of
Decimal Numbers” Notebook file. Ask students to think about decimal numbers and
the different features of a decimal number. Using a Highlighter pen and Pen from
the Pen tray, work with students to label the number’s different parts—hundreds,
tens, ones, decimal point, tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. Discuss any
misunderstandings, then press the arrow at the bottom of the page to reveal the
different parts of the decimal number.
Mini-Lesson
1. Go to page 3 of the Notebook file. Tell students that they will be asked a series of
questions to identify the position of a digit in a number with up to three decimal places.
2. Press the thumbnail image to start the quiz. There are ten questions for students to
answer. Read out each question and the possible answers. Count down from 15 to
give students a time limit to answer each question. Encourage them to answer each
question independently before deciding upon a class answer.
3. Provide less-confident learners with a word bank to help with their answers.
Independent Work
Give each group two number dice and one digit-position die (see Before You Start).
Display page 4 of the Notebook file. Have students draw on paper a three-columned
table with the headings “Number,” “Digit Position,” and “Digit.” Invite students to do
the following activity:
• Students roll one of the number dice to get a number with decimal places. They
should record this number in the first column of the table.
• Next, they roll their digit-position die and record this position in the second column.
• Finally, students need to figure out which digit is in this position in the whole
number. For example, if they roll 329.769 on the number die and 100th on their
digit-position die, then they record 6 in the final column of the table.
Provide a printout of the Notebook file’s page 7 (the annotated decimal number) to
ensure that they understand the different decimal positions.
Wrap-Up
Use the quiz on page 6 of the Notebook file to assess students’ understanding of
the place value of decimal numbers. Check any incorrect answers and discuss any
misconceptions that may occur.
20
Name ___________________________________________________ Date ________________
Dice Template
Math Lessons for the SMART Board: Grades 4–6 © 2011, Scholastic
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