Lesson 6
Compare Decimals on the Number Line
Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is for students to represent decimals to the thousandths place on the number line and compare them.
Lesson Narrative
In the previous lesson students compared decimals using a strategy that made sense to them with a focus on developing place value understanding to include thousandths. In this lesson, students use the number line to locate decimals to the thousandth. They continue to use their place value understanding as they label tick marks representing tenths, hundredths, and thousandths (MP7). They also see that the number line can be used to compare decimals just like it was used to compare whole numbers in earlier grades. Students also consider which number line is best for locating different decimals.
- Engagement
- MLR8
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Compare two decimals based on the value of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
- Represent decimals on a number line.
Student Facing
- Let’s locate and label decimals on number lines.
Required Preparation
CCSS Standards
Addressing
Lesson Timeline
| Warm-up | 10 min |
| Activity 1 | 15 min |
| Activity 2 | 10 min |
| Activity 3 | 10 min |
| Lesson Synthesis | 10 min |
| Cool-down | 5 min |
Teacher Reflection Questions
Reflecting on the students’ work today, who participated in math class today? What assumptions are you making about those who did not participate? How can you leverage each of your students’ ideas to support them in being seen and heard in tomorrow’s math class?
Suggested Centers
- Mystery Number (1–4), Stage 6: Decimals (Addressing)
- Get Your Numbers in Order (1–5), Stage 5: Decimals (Addressing)