Decimal Bridges Activity
Decimal Bridges Activity
Connecting Fractions, Decimals & Expanded Form
Name:
Date:
Anchor Concept: Decimals Are Fractions in Disguise
1st Place Right of Dot
Tenths
Fraction: \( \frac{1}{10} \)
Decimal: 0.1
1 of 10 equal parts
2nd Place Right of Dot
Hundredths
Fraction: \( \frac{1}{100} \)
Decimal: 0.01
1 of 100 equal parts
3rd Place Right of Dot
Thousandths
Fraction: \( \frac{1}{1,000} \)
Decimal: 0.001
1 of 1,000 equal parts
1
Place-Value Chart Warm-Up
— Write each digit in its correct column.
| Standard Form | Ones | . | Tenths (\(\frac{1}{10}\)) | Hundredths (\(\frac{1}{100}\)) | Thousandths (\(\frac{1}{1,000}\)) |
|---|
| 0.38 | | . | | | |
| 0.542 | | . | | | |
2
Expanded Form: Step-by-Step Model
Model: Breaking Apart 0.47 4 tenths and 7 hundredths
Using Fractions
\( 0.47 = \frac{4}{10} + \frac{7}{100} \)
\( \phantom{0.47} = (4 \times \frac{1}{10}) + (7 \times \frac{1}{100}) \)
Using Decimals
\( 0.47 = 0.4 + 0.07 \)
\( \phantom{0.47} = (4 \times 0.1) + (7 \times 0.01) \)
3
Your Turn: Build the Bridges for 0.63
— Fill in the missing boxes.
The digit 6 is in the place. The digit 3 is in the place.
A. Fraction Expanded Form
0.63 =
/ 10
/ 100
0.63 = ( \( \times \frac{1}{10} \) ) + ( \( \times \frac{1}{100} \) )
B. Decimal Expanded Form
0.63 =
0.63 = ( \( \times 0.1 \) ) + ( \( \times 0.01 \) )
Page 1 of 2 • Ready Math Lesson 8 Preteaching Activity • Decimal Bridges
Expanded Form Workshop
Working with Thousandths and Special Decimals
Student Name:
Watch Out for Zeros!
When a place has a digit of 0, like in 0.408, there are 0 hundredths. You don’t need to write \(0 \times \frac{1}{100}\) in expanded form!
4
Expanding to Thousandths
Problem A: Expand 0.715 3 decimal places = thousandths
Fraction Form (as sums):
\( 0.715 = \frac{7}{10} + \frac{\phantom{11}}{100} + \frac{\phantom{11}}{1,000} \)
Fraction Form (as products):
\( = (7 \times \frac{1}{10}) + (1 \times \frac{\phantom{1}}{100}) + (\phantom{1} \times \frac{1}{1,000}) \)
Decimal Form (as sums):
\( 0.715 = 0.7 + \phantom{0.00} + \phantom{0.000} \)
Decimal Form (as products):
\( = (7 \times 0.1) + (\phantom{1} \times 0.01) + (5 \times \phantom{0.000}) \)
Problem B: Expand 0.408 Zero in Hundredths!
Fraction Expanded:
Decimal Expanded:
5
Mixed Number: Whole Numbers + Decimals
— Don't forget the whole number in front!
Number: 4.36 (\(4\) wholes, \(3\) tenths, \(6\) hundredths)
Write in Fraction Expanded Form:
Write in Decimal Expanded Form:
Quick Check: Show What You Know
Independent Exit Ticket
A scientist measures an insect that is 2.083 centimeters long.
1. Value of digit 8:
2. Fraction Expanded:
3. Decimal Expanded:
Page 2 of 2 • Ready Math Lesson 8 Preteaching Activity • Decimal Bridges
Decimal Bridges Para Guide
Decimal Bridges Para Guide
Small-Group Preteaching Facilitation & Answer Key
Session Length: 15–20 Min Group Size: 1–5 Students
Objective: Students see decimals as fractions (\(\frac{1}{10}, \frac{1}{100}, \frac{1}{1,000}\)) and write numbers in expanded form.
Needs: Student Sheet & Pencils
Part 1
Warm-Up: The Base-Ten Bridge & Chart (5 Mins)
What to Say to Students:
"Today we're building a bridge between fractions and decimals! Whenever you see a decimal point, remember: each place after the point is a fraction. One place after is tenths, two places is hundredths, and three places is thousandths."
Have students point to each column in the Anchor Box and chorally read: "Tenths, hundredths, thousandths!"
Activity 1 Key: Place-Value Warm-Up Verify before moving forward
0.38: Ones: 0 | Tenths: 3 | Hundredths: 8 | Thousandths: [blank]
0.542: Ones: 0 | Tenths: 5 | Hundredths: 4 | Thousandths: 2
Part 2
Modeling & Guided Practice (7 Mins)
What to Say for 0.63:
"Look at 0.63. The 6 is in the tenths place, so its value is 6 tenths (\(\frac{6}{10}\) or 0.6). The 3 is in the hundredths place, so its value is 3 hundredths (\(\frac{3}{100}\) or 0.03). We pull them apart and add them back together!"
Activity 3 Key: Building Bridges for 0.63
• Digit 6 is in the tenths place. Digit 3 is in the hundredths place.
• Fraction Form: \( 0.63 = \frac{\mathbf{6}}{10} + \frac{\mathbf{3}}{100} \) OR \( (\mathbf{6} \times \frac{1}{10}) + (\mathbf{3} \times \frac{1}{100}) \)
• Decimal Form: \( 0.63 = \mathbf{0.6} + \mathbf{0.03} \) OR \( (\mathbf{6} \times 0.1) + (\mathbf{3} \times 0.01) \)
Para Prompt Tip: If a student writes 0.3 for the 3 instead of 0.03, ask: "Is 3 in the first spot or second spot after the dot? Second spot gets two decimal places: 0.03!"
Page 1 of 2 • Paraprofessional Guide • Decimal Bridges Preteaching
Workshop Guide & Key
Thousandths, Zero Traps & Quick Check
Page 2 Student Tasks
Part 3
Thousandths & The "Zero Trap" (5 Mins)
