Decimal spotting
This is a level 4 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It is focused on converting between fractions and decimals. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers' notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Convert between fractions and decimals.
Decimal spotting
Achievement objectives
NA4-5: Know the equivalent decimal and percentage forms for everyday fractions.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Levels 3–4, Basic Facts, "Decimal spotting", page 24
- photocopy of the decimal spotting number lines
- felt pens (different colour for each player)
- classmate
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Decimal spotting game (.pdf)
Activity
To play this game, students need to be able to compare and order fractions according to their decimal value. The game will give them practice in converting fractions to decimals and vice versa.
Get the students to play several rounds in pairs so that they see the relationship between fractions and decimal fraction positions. If they are unsure where their fraction would go on the number line, encourage them to relate it to a known fraction. For example, 1/9 is a little bit more than 1/10, and 1/10 = 0.1. (If they use a calculator, they will see that 1/10 = 1 ÷ 10, which is equal to 0.1.) Also encourage the students to think about a position that would block off their opponent.
There are several equivalent fractions that the students could make from the numbers in the box, and this reduces the positions available. A possible follow-up activity could be to find the equivalent fractions and find out how many different ways they can be made. For example, 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, and 5/10 are all equivalent to 0.5.
If the students play the game with small markers (for example, coloured sticks or toothpicks), they could re-use the same copymaster.
A possible variation could be to relate fractions to percentages, using the same rules and number matrix.
A game using decimal fractions.
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