Decimals - Tenths on a Number Line - Planning

In a Year 4 mathematics lesson focusing on decimals, particularly tenths on a number line, students are introduced to the concept of tenths and how to read and represent them using a number line. The lesson is designed to link mathematical understanding of decimals with practical measurement skills in centimetres and millimetres. The resources provided for the lesson include worksheets and a presentation, with vocabulary cards and definitions available to support learning. The class begins with a recap of previous learning and progresses through a series of activities that guide students to place decimals on a number line, understand the scale, and relate this to measuring objects such as ribbons and hats. By the end of the lesson, students are expected to have a firmer grasp of identifying and ordering tenths on a number line.

The lesson plan includes a variety of tasks to cater to different learning needs, with reasoning activities that encourage students to explain their thinking and worksheets that are differentiated by complexity. Key questions prompt students to consider the number of equal parts between whole numbers and the conversion of decimals to millimetres. A plenary session allows students to reflect on what they have learned, discuss any difficulties they encountered, and identify the support that helped them during the lesson. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions such as counting in equal intervals on a number line. To ensure a comprehensive understanding, the lesson materials offer varying levels of challenge, from placing decimals on a number line with known intervals to completing number lines with fewer known intervals, thereby catering to students working towards, at expected level, and at greater depth.