Decimal Zoo Facilitation Guide (OH 5th Grade)
Teacher Resource
Wild Designs
Ohio 5th Grade Decimal PBL Guide
Ohio Learning Standards Alignment
5.NBT.7
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.
Relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
Operational Focus
- Addition: Totaling land and animal costs.
- Subtraction: Tracking the grant balance.
- Multiplication: Calculating weekly payroll and habitat area.
- Division: Distributing bulk food portions.
Pacing Guide
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Day 1: Setup
Branding and Initial Budget.
-
Day 2: Assets
Addition & Subtraction focus.
-
Day 3: Design
Multiplication focus (Area).
-
Day 4: Ops
Division focus (Feeding).
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Day 5: Opening
Final Ledger & Review.
Facilitation Notes
- Place Value Reasoning: Ask students why we line up the points in Phase 2 but not Phase 3. Have them explain the "reasoning used" as per standard OH 5.NBT.7.
- Estimation: Before calculating the Lion Habitat Area, have students estimate (e.g., 15 x 10 = 150) to catch magnitude errors.
- Real-World Rounding: Task 4 division results in 48.3. Students must justify why 48 is the "real" answer based on the context of animal feeding.
Ohio Math Scaffolding
- Model with Money: Use $10, $1, and $0.01 bills to visualize place value strategies for struggling learners.
- Area Models: Use 10x10 grids to show decimal multiplication for the habitat design phase.
- Reasoning Prompts: "How does multiplying 1.5 x 1.5 compare to 15 x 15? Why is the product smaller?"
Chief Architect Decimal Handbook (OH 5th Grade)
Wild Designs
Decimal Zoo Architect Handbook
Architect Name
Project Brief
Starting Capital: \$25,000.50
Build a world-class sanctuary using Ohio 5th Grade Math Standard 5.NBT.7. You will add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths to manage your business.
Phase 1: Your Brand
Name your zoo:
Rule: Record every credit and every meter with decimal precision. Always align your decimal points when adding and subtracting!
Wild Designs PBL © 2026 | Aligned to OH 5.NBT.7
Phase 2: Land & Residents
Plot Selection
A: Valley - \$5,400.25
B: Island - \$7,100.75
Animal Menu
Lions: \$3,200.50
Elephants: \$4,500.65
Giraffes: \$2,800.25
Pandas: \$5,000.75
Total Expenses (Addition)
Calculate the sum of your Plot + at least 3 animal species:
Total Expenses: ________________
Grant Balance (Subtraction)
\$25,000.50 - Total Expenses:
Remaining Credits: ________________
Phase 3: Habitat Design
Zoning Limits (OH 5.NBT.7):
Length: 15.5 m to 25.2 m | Width: 10.2 m to 18.8 m
Chosen Dimensions:
Length: ________ m
Width: ________ m
Sketch Habitat
Area Workspace (Multiplication)
Multiply Length \(\times\) Width to find living space:
Total Area: ________________ m²
Fencing Workspace (Addition)
Calculate the Perimeter (sum of all 4 sides):
Total Perimeter: ________________ m
Phase 4: Operations
Task 3: Weekly Payroll
Shift Rate: \$150.50. Team Requirement: 5.5 shifts total.
Calculate total payroll cost (Multiplication):
Weekly Cost: ________________
Task 4: Food Distribution
Bulk Supply: 120.75 kg. Daily portion per animal: 2.5 kg.
How many animals can you feed today? (Division):
Total Capacity: ________________ Animals
Phase 5: Financials
Day 1 Sales Report
1. Ticket Revenue (120 visitors \(\times\) $12.25):
2. Gift Shop Profits (\$3,500.80 sales - \$1,200.55 costs):
Opening Day Revenue: ______________
Project Health Check
Add your Opening Day Revenue to your Current Balance (Remaining Credits after paying staff) to find your final status.
Final Audit Workspace
Verdict:
Success?
Ready for expansion?
Master Ledger (OH 5th Grade Decimals)
Master Decimal Ledger
OH 5.NBT.7 Project Solution Guide
Phase 2: Project Reference Data
Land Plots
- Plot A:\$5,400.25
- Plot B:\$7,100.75
Animal Menu
- Lions:\$3,200.50
- Elephants:\$4,500.65
- Giraffes:\$2,800.25
- Pandas:\$5,000.75
Operational Logic (OH 5.NBT.7)
Task 4: Feeding Distribution (Division)
Problem: \(120.75 \div 2.5\)
1. Strategy: Shift decimal to divisor: \(1207.5 \div 25\)
2. Calculate: \(48.3\)
Answer: 48 Animals (Round down to whole animals)
Ohio 5.NBT.7 requires relating strategies to a written method.
Staffing Cost (Multiplication)
Equation: \(150.50 \times 5.5\)
Result: \$827.75 total payroll.
Phase 5: Results
TICKET REVENUE
\$1,470.00 (120 \(\times\) 12.25)
SHOP PROFIT
\$2,300.25 (3500.80 - 1200.55)
Opening Day Total Revenue
\$3,770.25
Project Assessment Rubric
| Criteria | Mastery (3) | Progressing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|
| OH 5.NBT.7 Precision | Accurate point placement in all ops; relates strategy to written work. | 1-2 placement errors; inconsistent explanation of reasoning. | Major errors in decimal place value. |
| Project Logic | Balances carry perfectly; logic is mathematically sound. | Calculations mostly correct; small carrying errors. | Phases are disconnected. |
Wild Designs Slides (OH 5th Grade Decimals)
Wild Designs
The Decimal Zoo Project
Master Ohio 5th Grade Math Standards to build and manage your own wildlife sanctuary.
Project Roadmap (OH 5.NBT.7)
1
Branding & Plots
Name your zoo and pick a plot.
2
Buying Residents
3
Habitat Architecture
4
Operational Math
5
Grand Opening Audit
Precision in Every Decimal
Phase 1: Startup
Initial Grant: \$25,000.50
Rule: Record every cent and meter with decimal precision.
The Resident Roster
Plot Choice
Valley: \$5,400.25
Island: \$7,100.75
Animal Price
Lions: \$3,200.50
Align points to subtract!
Phase 4: Operations
Payroll
Rate \(\times\) Shifts
Decimal Mult
Feeding
Total \(\div\) Ration
Decimal Div
Grand Opening
Analyze your Day 1 sales reports and calculate your total success!
Project Revenue
\$3,770.25
