Decimals - Order Decimals - Planning

In the second week of the summer term, Year 4 students delve into the world of decimals with a focus on ordering them correctly. The National Curriculum objectives for this module include comparing numbers up to two decimal places, rounding decimals to the nearest whole number, and understanding decimal equivalents for common fractions. Students will also explore the effects of dividing numbers by 10 or 100, recognising the value of digits as ones, tenths, and hundredths. Key vocabulary introduced includes terms such as 'decimal number', 'tenths', 'hundredths', 'compare', 'order', 'ascending', 'descending', and 'rounding', among others. The lesson begins with a recap of previous learning, followed by activities that involve identifying numbers on place value charts, arranging decimals in ascending and descending order, and using inequality symbols to compare decimals.

During the class, children engage in hands-on activities using counters to represent decimal numbers and compare their values. They are encouraged to articulate their understanding by using sentence stems such as "I know this because..." to explain their reasoning. The lesson is supported by differentiated worksheets that cater to varying levels of understanding, from those working towards expected levels to those capable of greater depth. Students will also reflect on their learning by identifying the skills they've used, what helped them during the lesson, and what they need to remember moving forward. As part of their independent learning, children will work on exercises that involve ordering decimals represented pictorially and using inequality signs to complete statements, with the complexity of tasks increasing for those demonstrating greater depth in their understanding.