Adding and Subtracting Decimals

Introduction

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As a hook, ask students why understanding and being able to add and subtract decimals is important in real life. You can refer to the real-life application section on the last page of the guided notes for ideas. For example, you could ask them how adding and subtracting decimals can be useful when grocery shopping and calculating prices.

Use the guided notes to introduce the topic of adding and subtracting decimals. Walk through the key steps, such as the rules for adding and subtracting decimals, lining up decimal points, adding 0s to fill empty place values, and bringing decimal points down . Refer to the FAQ section below for a walk-through on this, as well as ideas on how to respond to common student questions.

Based on student responses during the discussion, reteach any concepts that students may need extra help with. If your class has a wide range of proficiency levels, you can pull out students for reteaching, while more advanced students can begin working on the practice exercises.

Note: The introduction section of the lesson plan is focused on engaging students and providing an overview of the topic. The specific details and steps for teaching the concept are included in the guided notes section of the lesson plan.

Practice

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Have students practice word problems (they go on a clothes shopping spree!) by adding and subtracting decimals using the practice worksheets included in the resource. Walk around the classroom to answer any student questions and provide support as needed.

Fast finishers can dive into the maze worksheet and color by number activity for extra practice. You can assign it as homework for the remainder of the class or classwork for the next day.

Real-Life Application

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Bring the class back together, and introduce the concept of adding and subtracting decimals as applied to grocery shopping. Use the last page of the guided notes resource for this.

Explain to students that decimals are commonly used when calculating prices at the grocery store. Show them examples of grocery store receipts or advertisements that display prices with decimals.

Discuss with the students how decimals are used when adding up the total cost of items in a shopping cart. Emphasize the importance of understanding how to add and subtract decimals accurately to avoid overpaying or underpaying at the checkout counter.

Ask the students to imagine that they are shopping for groceries and have a budget of $50. Distribute a list of grocery items along with their prices expressed in decimals. Instruct the students to choose items from the list, add up the prices, and determine if they can stay within their budget. Encourage them to use the skills they learned in the guided notes and practice worksheets to calculate the total cost accurately.

After they have completed the activity, have a class discussion about their experiences. Ask students to share how they made decisions about which items to purchase based on their budget. Discuss any challenges they faced when adding and subtracting decimals while shopping.

Refer to the FAQ for more ideas on how to teach real-world applications of adding and subtracting decimals.

Additional Self-Checking Digital Practice

If you’re looking for digital practice for adding and subtracting decimals, try the Pixel Art activities in Google Sheets. Every answer is automatically checked, and correct answers unlock parts of a mystery picture. It’s incredibly fun and a powerful tool for differentiation.

Here are some activities to explore:

• Decimals Operations Pixel Art BUNDLE | Add Subtract Multiply Divide
• Adding and Subtracting Decimals Pixel Art

Additional Print Practice

A fun, no-prep way to practice adding and subtracting decimals is with Doodle Math - a fresh take on color by number or color by code. It includes multiple levels of practice, perfect for a review day or sub plan.

Here are some activities to try:

• Adding and Subtracting Decimals Doodle Math
• Decimal Operations Doodle Math BUNDLE | Add Subtract Multiply Divide

Real-Life Math Project

A fun way to wrap up the lesson on adding and subtracting decimals is with a real-life math project. It enables students to see the application of the math in an engaging, extended project.

Here are some projects to consider:

• Vending Machine Math
• Decimals and Money Bundle: Manage a Hotel and Create a Vending Machine