Decimal - Divide by 10, 100 and 1,000 - Planning

In Year 6, students delve into the intricacies of decimals, specifically focusing on how to divide them by 10, 100, and 1,000. The lesson utilises a variety of resources, including blank place value charts and counters, worksheets, and a presentation, to aid in the students' understanding. The key vocabulary for this lesson encompasses terms such as decimals, place value, tenths, hundredths, thousandths, multiply, convert, place value holder, and divide. Students begin with a warm-up activity that requires them to answer questions to recap their prior knowledge of multiplying decimals by these multiples, which sets the stage for learning the inverse operation of division.

The lesson is structured to build on the foundational concept of multiplication of decimals by transitioning to division. In the first activity, students discuss the difference between multiplying and dividing by 10, 100, and 1,000, noting that division makes the number smaller, with digits shifting to the right in the place value columns. Further exercises involve practising division using place value charts and counters, and identifying true or false calculations, which enhances their reasoning skills. The lesson also includes practical group work and independent tasks that cater to varying levels of proficiency, from working towards expected levels to achieving greater depth. Students are encouraged to reflect on what they've learned, the skills they've used, and the importance of zero as a placeholder in decimals. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions, such as the movement of the decimal point and the value of trailing zeros in decimals.