Students expand their conception of what a “number” is as they are introduced to an entirely new category of number, decimals, which they learn to convert, compare, and add in simple cases.
Unit 7 introduces students to an entirely new category of number—decimals. Students will explore decimals and their relationship to fractions, seeing that tenths and hundredths are particularly important fractional units because they represent an extension of the place value system into a new kind of number called decimals. Thus, students expand their conception of what a “number” is to encompass this entirely new category, which they will rely on for the remainder of their mathematical education.
Students have previously encountered an example of needing to change their understanding of what a number is in Grade 3, when the term came to include fractions. Their Grade 3 understanding of fractions (3.NF.A), as well as their work with fractions so far this year (4.NF.A, 4.NF.B), will provide the foundation upon which decimal numbers, their equivalence to fractions, their comparison, and their addition will be built. Students also developed an understanding of money in Grade 2, working with quantities either less than one dollar or whole dollar amounts (2.MD.8). But with the knowledge acquired in this unit, students will be able to work with money represented as decimals, as it so often is.
Thus, students rely on their work with fractions to see the importance of a tenth as a fractional unit as an extension of the place value system in Topic A, then expand that understanding to hundredths in Topic B. Throughout Topics A and B, students convert between fraction, decimal, unit, and expanded forms to encourage these connections (4.NF.6). Then students learn to compare decimals in Topic C (4.NF.7) and add decimal fractions in Topic D (4.NF.5). Finally, students apply this decimal understanding to solve word problems, including those particularly related to money, at the end of the unit. Thus, the work with money (4.MD.2) supports the major work and main focus of the unit on decimals.
While students will have ample opportunities to engage with the standards for mathematical practice, they’ll rely heavily on looking for and making use of structure (MP.7), particularly the structure of the place value system. They will also construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others (MP.3) using various decimal fraction models to support their reasoning.
In Grade 5, students will build on this solid foundation of decimal fractions to develop an even deeper understanding of decimals' relationship to place value and to perform decimal operations with similar models (5.NBT.1—4, 5.NBT.7). By the end of 6th grade, students will be fluent with the use of the standard algorithm to compute with decimals (6.NS.3). From that point forward, students will use their understanding of decimals as a specific kind of number in their mathematical work, including ratios, functions, and many others.
Pacing: 16 instructional days (14 lessons, 1 flex day, 1 assessment day)
For guidance on adjusting the pacing for the 2020-2021 school year due to school closures, see our 4th Grade Scope and Sequence Recommended Adjustments.
This assessment accompanies Unit 7 and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.
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Area model |
Example: The following shape represents 1 whole. 0.24 of it is shaded. |
Number line |
Example: The point on the number line below is located at 0.24. |
Base ten blocks |
Example: Represent 21.53 with base ten blocks. |
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tenth
hundredth
fraction expanded form
decimal point
decimal number
decimal fraction
decimal expanded form
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With Fishtank Plus you can access our Daily Word Problem Practice and our content-aligned Fluency Activities created to help students strengthen their application and fluency skills.
View Preview4.NF.C.6
Represent decimals to tenths less than one with area models. Convert between fraction, decimal, and unit form.
4.NF.C.6
Represent decimals to tenths less than ten with number lines. Convert between fraction, decimal, and unit form.
4.NF.C.6
Represent decimals to tenths greater than ten with pictorial base ten blocks. Convert between fraction, decimal, unit, and fraction and decimal expanded form.
4.NF.C.5
4.NF.C.6
Represent decimals to hundredths less than one, understanding the equivalence of some number of tenths and 10 times as many hundredths. Convert between fraction, decimal, and unit form.
4.NF.C.5
4.NF.C.6
Represent decimals to hundredths more than one. Convert between fraction, decimal, unit, and fraction and decimal expanded form.
4.NF.C.5
4.NF.C.6
Regroup numbers with more than 9 tenths or 9 hundredths into simplest unit form and vice versa.
4.NF.C.7
Compare two decimals less than 1, recording the result of a comparison with the symbol >, =, or <. Justify the conclusion using a visual model.
4.NF.C.7
Compare two decimals greater than 1, recording the result of a comparison with the symbol >, =, or <. Justify the conclusion using a visual model.
4.NF.C.7
Compare two or more decimals written in various forms.
4.NF.C.5
Add tenths with hundredths written as decimal fractions.
4.NF.C.5
Add tenths with hundredths written as decimals.
4.NF.C.5
Solve word problems involving the addition of decimals and decimal fractions.
Key: Major Cluster Supporting Cluster Additional Cluster
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