Comparing Decimals Lesson Plan: Numbers and Operations- Fractions

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Comparing Decimals Lesson Plan. 

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Comparing Decimals, and supports the standard of comparing decimals to hundredths. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display a menu with prices, like this one:

Ask:

• How might you determine which drink is the most expensive? The least expensive? 

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

• Read the description on the Comparing Decimals topic page.
• Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
  

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign Comparing Decimals Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about comparing decimals while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

• Make-a-Movie: Produce a weather report comparing temperatures from yesterday and today measured to the nearest hundredth of a degree. 
• Make-a-Map: Create a concept map sequencing the steps to accurately compare two decimals using the strategy of your choice. 
• Creative Coding: Code a math problem involving comparing decimals. Challenge a classmate to solve. 

More to Explore  

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of decimals with these topics: Decimals, Multiplying Decimals, Dividing Decimals, and Converting Fractions to Decimals. 

Teacher Support Resources:

• Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas. 
• Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
• Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.