Decimals

Decimals play an important role in the 5th grade curriculum. Decimals are very much connected to place value which our students have worked a lot with in 4th grade. One of the most important things that we talk about with students is that the decimal point does not move, the digits move. When a digit moves to the left it is representing a number that is ten times greater and when it moves to the right is it representing a number that 1/10 the value. There are several strategies that we use such as place value chips, area model, place value blocks, and unit form.