Decimals - Tenths as Decimals - Planning

The Year 4 curriculum introduces students to the concept of tenths as decimals during the Spring term. The lesson begins with a small step starter that recaps previous learning, where students write tenths as both decimals and fractions. They learn to express numbers of tenths using various representations, understanding that a tenth signifies one part of a whole divided into ten equal parts. The class teaching input further reinforces this by using visual aids such as ten frames, number lines, and bar models to depict decimals. Students are then encouraged to write down the decimal as a word and show its fraction equivalent, ensuring they grasp that the denominator is always ten due to the ten equal parts.

Following the introduction, the lesson proceeds with activities that challenge the students to apply their knowledge. In Activity 1, they fill in a table with headings for image, words, fraction, and decimals, initially with support and then with increasing independence. Activity 2 involves partner discussions to identify the fractions and decimals represented in diagrams. Activity 3 prompts further partner talk as children explore how to represent decimals like 0.4, 0.8, and 0.2. The lesson also includes reasoning tasks where students evaluate statements about decimals as tenths and compare different amounts. The plenary encourages students to reflect on what they've learned, the skills they've used, and any challenges they faced. Differentiated worksheets are provided for independent learning, catering to various levels of understanding, from working towards the expected level to achieving greater depth. Key questions prompt students to think critically about the use of tenths in real life and the clarity of different representations. The lesson aims to solidify the students' understanding of tenths as decimals and to address common misconceptions regarding visual representations of decimals.