When I first started teaching, I assumed that decimal place value would be the easiest unit to teach. Like place value doesn’t involve ‘math’ like multiplication for 5th grade or how to add and subtract fractions. Simply give them a worksheet on decimal place value and move on.
My poor little first-year teacher self.
Little did I know, place value is very much math-related. And at the 5th and 6th grade level where decimal place value is the standard, it’s not just standard knowledge.
One of the main struggles with teaching decimal place value is the fact that it is based on whole number place value and number sense. If a student has a strong grasp of that primary elementary skill, then the decimal place value makes sense quickly. If a student is missing that number sense foundation, decimals just make everything more difficult to learn.
Before I jump into the worksheet on decimal place value examples, let’s start with the basics.
What are the place value of decimals?
What are the place value of decimals? Great question! Let’s start off the decimal place value conversation here. Similar to the place value of whole numbers, there is an order to the places. Starting at the decimal point and reading from left to right the place value of decimals is tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. The addition of -ths means that the number is in a place to the right of the decimal.
Decimal in Place Value Chart
Want to answer the question ’what are the place value of decimals ‘ in a different way? I love having a decimal in place value chart to show students visually. This decimal in place value chart has become the most used math anchor chart in my classroom. Until students get the order down, the chart provides that reference. This also makes students more independent which is always a win in the upper elementary classroom!
If you are looking for additional ideas for math posters be sure to check out this blog post. There are a bunch more decimal in place value chart examples in that post.
Understanding Decimal Place Value
Understanding decimal place value is key to other math standards. Standards such as comparing decimals, reading decimals, writing decimals in expanded notation, and rounding decimals are all based on understanding decimal place value. Without this foundation skill, the other standards become that much more difficult to learn.
Start off your decimal place value unit slow and steady. I like to incorporate whole number place value through morning work or math learning centers before I even start teaching decimals. I want students to have that strong foundation in whole numbers first so that we can ramp up the rigor with decimals later.
Worksheet on Decimal Place Value Options
Looking for a worksheet on decimal place value? With this important upper elementary topic, there are tons of options. These ones are my personal favorites and ones that fill a variety of different holes in your math block.
Curriculum Worksheet on Decimal Place Value
I like having a base curriculum to pull from for my instruction. Since my school doesn’t have a set curriculum, I made my own! This unit has a bunch of different worksheets for notes, homework, tests, quizzes, study guide, exit tickets, and data tracking sheets! Everything you need to teach for 9 days!
- Fill in the blank notes with short videos (5-10 minutes) to match the notes sheet. These are perfect for a flipped classroom or for absent students.
- Worksheet on Decimal Place Value for homework or guided practice. These also make easy, independent work for math station ideas.
- Math Exit Tickets for each day of notes are included. They are available in 3 different forms: paper slips, Google Slides to present to the class, and Google Forms for self-grading.
- A mid-unit quiz
- Study Guide to review your entire decimal place value unit
- 2 Versions of the Test for retake options or they can be used for a pretest and post-test data point
- Data Tracking Spreadsheets for simple data tracking on exit tickets, assessments, or Common Core Standards
If you want to know more about the unit, click here to be taken to my TPT shop.
5th grade math decimals worksheets
This worksheet on the decimal place value bundle has 15 weeks of decimal skills. Decimal place value and operation on decimals combine to create this set of worksheets. These are perfect for morning work, spiral review homework, or a math station idea. The decimals change each day but the skills stay the same for the week. This gives students practice on a decimal place value skill for the entire week. If you want to check it out, it’s up for sale in my TPT shop.
Disclaimer: this worksheet on the decimal place value option does include some operations of decimal numbers prompts and isn’t strictly place value. However, since I teach decimal place value and then the operations it spirals nicely.
Decimal Place Value for 5th grade Activities
This is another bundle that has 11 different activities for students to play. I love using the activities included to break up concepts and the engagement in my classroom! The work mats are a great option for small group instruction and the line it up cards are a fun whole group game that can be played throughout the unit.
Also in this bundle are menu activities to review before an assessment (or even state testing) and a Solve & Color Worksheet on decimal place value that is perfect for independent practice or to leave for a sub day.
Conversion Metric System Worksheet & Digital Task Cards
One of the main reasons behind understanding decimal place value is to be able to convert them into a metric system. These digital task cards are an easy, low prep option to get students practicing decimal place value within the context of metric system conversions.
Ideas for Math Posters: Decimal in Place Value Chart
This is a set of traceable anchor charts AND fill-in-the-blank student charts. These are a great way to not only introduce students to the idea of note-taking but also provide that decimal in place value chart for students to reference. I don’t know about you but I find that I run out of wall space for anchor charts really quick. So I like using math interactive notebooks (or my alternative math folders) as a space for students to access the charts on their own.
This worksheet on decimal place value pack is less worksheet, more notes, and references. But since the charts become a paper to copy, they are kind of like a worksheet in my mind. Click here or the picture below to learn more!
Place Value Games with Decimals
Last but not least, my favorite type of worksheet on decimal place value: games! There are 2 different place value games with decimals that my students are obsessed with. Bonus points for them being print & play, no cutting or laminating!
First up are the Double Dice Games. These place value games with decimals are a year-round staple as students are creating their own math problems with dice. Talk about a student-centric learning method! What’s more student-centered than that? Students roll dice to create a decimal and then compete against their partners to create the largest decimal using their understanding decimal place value skills. This game can be left out for a few weeks in math learning centers or is a great spiral review option before state testing starts. Check out the TPT listing here.
The next set of place value games with decimals is Tic Tac Toe! This game is one of my student’s favorites in math stations so there are a few skills that I practice through games. The rounding with decimals game has students round decimals to different decimal place values giving practice to this 5th grade skill. The next game is XXXXXXX all about comparing decimals. To play this game simply print the game boards. Students will pair up and solve a math problem. They then check answers with their partner (yes it’s also self-checking!). If the answer is right, they take a turn at Tic Tac Toe. The rules are simple to follow and my students get so come-give it’s crazy!
You can grab these place value games with decimals here in my TPT store.
Looking for another worksheet on decimal place value?
More worksheet on decimal place value options can be found on TPT but there are literally thousands of options. I went through and found some favorites in addition to the ones listed above. I haven’t purchased all of these but have purchased other resources from these sellers and their products are top-notch and high quality!
- Understanding Decimal Place Value: complete lesson plan ready to teach
- Resources & Teaching Ideas: tons of great ideas from anchor charts to error-analysis and math interactive notebook pages
- Build Decimal Number Sense and Place Value Understanding: dive into the background information and understand decimal place values.
- Decimal Place Value: lots of great examples where you need to brush up on your own knowledge or pull examples for students during small group instruction
- Teaching Decimal Place Value So They Remember: so many great visuals and decimal in place value chart ideas
- Decimal Place Value Activities Students Love: awesome digital activities and place value games with decimals to play during math learning centers
- How to Set Up Math Stations in 30 Seconds: time-saving tips for math station ideas that won’t take forever to prep
- Top 5 worksheets for 5th grade options: a round-up of all things 5th grade including understanding decimal place value
I’d love to know what’s your favorite worksheet on decimal place value? Drop your ideas in the comments below!
Leave a Reply