TEACHER’S GUIDE
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Suggested Internet Sources
Periodically, Internet Resources are updated on our web site at
www.LibraryVideo.com
• mathforum.org/
This Drexel University site offers a multitude of math problems, lesson
plans, math resources and a question/answer section for students and
teachers.
• www.aaamath.com/B/dec.htm
Students can practice decimal problems with challenging games on this
site that offers basic explanations and extension concepts.
• mtn.merit.edu/resources/math/fractions_decimals_and
_percents.html
Michigan Teacher Network has compiled over 30 sites, supported by their
state standards, designed to aid students in practicing fraction, decimal and
percentage problems.
Suggested Print Sources
• Caron, Lucille and Philip M. St. Jacques. Fractions and Decimals. Enslow
Publishers, Berkeley Heights, NJ; 2000.
• Gifford, Scott. Piece=Part=Portion: Fractions=Decimals=Percents. Tricycle
Press, Berkeley, CA; 2003.
• Long, Lynette. Delightful Decimals and Perfect Percents: Games and
Activities That Make Math Easy and Fun. John Wiley & Sons, New York,
NY; 2002.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Kimberly Grieco, M.Ed.
Curriculum Specialist, Schlessinger Media
TITLES IN THIS SERIES
• 3-D Shapes
• Complements:
Making 100 & 1000
• Decimals
• Decimals: Adding,
Subtracting & Comparing
• Doubles & Halves
• Equations
• Equivalent Fractions &
Mixed Numbers
• Fractions
• Integers
• Multiples & Factors
• Number Patterns
Teacher’s Guides Included
and Available Online at:
Program Copyright 2002 by
BBC Worldwide Limited.
BBC and Maths Challenge are trademarks of
the British Broadcasting Corporation and are
used under license.
© BBC 1996
• Operations With Large
Numbers
• Percentages
• Rounding Numbers
• Shapes
• Zeros: Multiplying &
Dividing by 10, 100, 1000
800-843-3620
Teacher’s Guide Copyright 2004
by Schlessinger Media,
a division of Library Video Company
P.O. Box 580,Wynnewood, PA 19096
800-843-3620
All rights reserved. K6443
Decimals
Grades 4–6
R
eview and practice of math concepts is an essential
component in maintaining prior knowledge and problemsolving skills. This series reinforces important skills taught in
grades 4–6 through the use of animated characters and an engaging storyline.
In each episode, students will become Special Agents to assist
Top Secret Agent Matt Mattics in solving two sets of math problems focusing on a core math concept. Paper and pencil need to
be ready as your students record their answers to these math
questions (between 7–16 total problems). Each question allows
students a certain time limit for answers. Students will check
their answers and score points that will qualify them as Cadet,
Secret Agent or Master Spy.
Please note that this series was produced in Great Britain,
where some terminology and phrases might be different than
in the United States. For example, the word “naught” is sometimes used for zero as in 0.2 (naught point two) and “maths”
is used for math.
Secret Mission
Dr. Strangeglove has stolen the Starlight Diamond and will become ruler of
the math world. It is up to Matt Mattics and his Special Agents to solve two
sets of review questions on decimals in order to find the diamond and restore
world balance. In the first set of problems, students must identify decimals on
a number line. Decimal concepts are extended in the second set of problems,
as students are asked to round decimals on a number line to the nearest
whole number.
Background Knowledge & Strategies
In order to handle this secret mission, students must have a basic knowledge
of decimals. Revisit the definition of decimals “as numbers used to show
amounts smaller than one.” Students should be familiar with tenths, hundredths and how to properly read a decimal (i.e., 3.2 is read as “three and
two tenths”). Review basic rules for rounding numbers and connect those
same principles to rounding decimals to the nearest whole number. Prepare
your Special Agents by using the following sample problems.A question and
answer key follows each sample.
Set A: Identify the decimal shown on the number line.
M
5 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 6 1 2 3
Strategies:
• Show students how this number line is similar to other number lines, except
that it has divisions between the whole numbers to represent decimal values.
• Count aloud from 5.0 to 5.1 and so on.
Answer: 5.6
Identify the decimal displayed on the number line:
M
M
1
0
1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 1
5
2
1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9
M
2
3
0 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 1
6
2 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 3
M
M
0 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
7
2 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 3
8
2 1 23 4 5 6 7
M
M
4
0
3
M
1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9
1
Answer Key for Set A (Answers appear in bold)
1. 0.6 2. 0.8 3. 0.45 4. 0.65 5. 2.5 6. 2.9
7. 2.15
89
3
8. 2.85
Set B: Round 2.5 meters to the nearest meter.
Strategies:
• Model the thought process needed to round numbers.
• Use a number line.
• Estimate and check.
Answer: 3 meters
(Continued)
Answer Key for Set B (Answers appear in bold)
Round each value to the nearest meter:
1. 5.8 m rounds to 6 m 2. 6.4 m rounds to 6 m
3. 7.5 m rounds to 8 m
4. 4.25 m rounds to 4 m 5. 8.75 m rounds to 9 m 6. 6.95 m rounds to 7 m
Vocabulary
The following words are included for teacher reference and for use with students to refresh and extend the subject matter in the show.
decimal — A way to show relationships between parts and wholes. Decimals
provide a way to represent numbers smaller than one.
decimal point — A symbol that is used to separate whole numbers from
numbers less than one.
estimate — To find a number that is close to the exact answer of a number
sentence.
equivalent decimals — Decimals that name the same amount (i.e. 0.5 =
00.500).
fraction — A way to compare equal parts to a whole.
hundredth — One of 100 equal parts of a whole.
rounding — An operation used in estimation by replacing a number with
another that tells about how many or how much. For example, 2.9 can be
rounded to 3.0, the nearest whole number.
tenth — One of ten equal parts of a whole.
thousandth — One of 1,000 equal parts of a whole.
Follow-Up Discussion & Activities
• Discuss with students what they know about decimals.Where have students
seen decimals in everyday life? How are decimals similar and different to
fractions and percents?
• Discuss with students how decimals are used in money. Practice using the
decimal point in counting different amounts of change and paper currency.
• Scores, times and batting averages add up to decimals in sports! Examine
the ways decimals are used in sports. Divide the class into groups according
to which sport they like. Have each group search through newspapers, magazines, or other reference sources to collect numerical data about that sport.
Once collected, students can sort, compare, and list categories of data.
Display the results and discuss.
• Use a game to strengthen decimal place-value relationships. On a sheet of
paper, have students write the number zero followed by a decimal point and
three blanks to represent the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths place
value. Call out three different single digits from 1 to 9, one at a time.As the
digits are called, students place each digit in any of the blanks on their
papers. Encourage students to read their decimals aloud.
• Practice ordering and comparing decimals. Give each student a sheet of
paper and ask them to write down any decimal they choose using tenths or
hundredths. Put students in small groups and encourage them to order their
decimals from smallest to largest.As a group, they can create a number line
and post their decimals.