First to the draw
This is a level 4 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It is focused on reading and writing decimal numbers. 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:
- Read and write decimal numbers.
First to the draw
Achievement objectives
NA4-6: Know the relative size and place value structure of positive and negative integers and decimals to three place
Required materials
- one set of digit cards (0-9 and an extra 0) for each player (see First to draw digit cards)
- a counter for each player
- two or more classmates
- Figure It Out, Level 3-4, Number, Book 2, "First to the draw"
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- First to draw digit cards (.pdf)
- First to draw cards CM (.pdf)
- First to draw cards activity (.pdf)
Activity
Game
This game develops students’ knowledge of fractions, decimals, and place value. Students at the advanced multiplicative stage of the Number Framework need to have a sound knowledge of place value before they can progress to later stages.
One way of introducing the game is to divide the class into teams of 5, with each student responsible for two of the digit cards. You call out the First to the Draw card, and the team selects the holders of the digit cards that make up the correct answer. The first team to come forward with the answer (in place value order) wins a point. You record the answer, and the cardholders can reinforce their decimal vocabulary (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) by rereading the answer aloud. For extra points, ask the teams to read the answer another way (for example, 654 hundredths can be read as 6 ones and 54 hundredths or 65 tenths and 4 hundredths) before drawing the next decimal card.
To support those students who have a less developed knowledge of decimal place value and grouping, record the number on a place value chart. For example, for 23 ones and 18 hundredths:
Hundreds |
Tens |
Ones |
|
Tenths |
Hundredths |
Thousandths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
3 |
. |
1 |
8 |
|
Students who master the whole-class game quickly can be introduced to the individual version of it, leaving you more time to work with the students who need support with decimal place value. Be aware that addition is required to make some of the decimals in the individual game, for example, 6 tenths and 24 hundredths is 0.84.
The students can extend this game by creating their own First to the Draw cards, to which they may need to add a second set of digit cards (if they use a digit more than once).
Game
A game for working with decimal numbers and place value.
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