Lesson Plan: Rounding Decimals

Lesson Opening

1. Do a quick review on what a decimal is and how to convert it to a fraction. Remind them what to call the decimal, how the decimal is pronounced "and" and how all decimals have a fractional equivalent.

1. Why are we returning to this skill? Because we struggled with it on the test a week ago. With an exam coming soon, this is an important skill you will need to know. We are reviewing it so you will be ready.

Guided Practice

1. Where's one place you see decimals all the time? Money. The numbers to the left of the decimal stand for dollars and the numbers to the right of the decimal stand for cents. You can round to the nearest dollar, or you can round to the nearest tenth, hundredth, etc.

1. We don't always have to focus on money. You can round any decimal to any place value. There are a couple things to keep in mind. One, the only number that will possibly change is the digit with the place value you are rounding to. You should circle that digit.

1. Two, the digit right behind that one is the determining digit. It determines whether the digit in front will be bigger or stay the same. It won't change, but it makes the decision. Box this digit.

1. Three, the digits behind the digit being rounded disappear.

Independent Practice

1. Have the children complete a quick worksheet about rounding money to the nearest dollar, tenth, hundredth, thousandth, etc. Remind them the procedure is the same, no matter what place value you are rounding to.

1. Remind them that 5 is the magic number. If you are more than 4, you automatically round up.

Closing

1. Ask students to share their answers.