Module 3: Estimating Decimals - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module will learn about decimal place value and how to write decimals in expanded form. Students will learn about comparing decimals, rounding whole numbers, and rounding decimals. Students will learn about how to use rounding to estimate addition and subtraction and how to estimate using compatible numbers.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Decimal Place Values
  1. Read and write decimal numbers in written forms to the thousandths place.
2 Expanded Form
  1. Read decimal numbers in expanded and written forms, to the thousandths place.
  2. Write decimal numbers using expanded and written forms, to the thousandths place.
3 Comparing Decimals
  1. Compare two decimal numbers, to the thousandths place.
4 Rounding Whole Numbers
  1. Round whole numbers to different places.
5 Rounding Decimals
  1. Round decimals to the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths places.
6 Estimating Sums and Differences
  1. Estimate operations by rounding decimal numbers.
7 Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers
  1. Estimate operations by using compatible numbers.
8 Division Using Compatible Numbers
  1. Estimate quotients using compatible numbers.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
decimal
place value
expanded form
standard form
comparing
round
benchmark
place
decimals
estimate
addition
subtraction
compatible
multiply
division

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Decimal Place Values 8 Assignment
3 Comparing Decimals 5 Assignment
4 Rounding Whole Numbers 7 Assignment
6 Estimating Sums and Differences 6 Assignment
7 Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers 6 Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Decimal Place Values In their Math notebook, have your student explain decimal place value.
2 Expanded Form In their Math notebook, have your student explain what expanded form is and give an example of a number written in expanded form.
3 Comparing Decimals In their Math notebook, have your student write about the process involved in comparing decimals.
4 Rounding Whole Numbers In their Math notebook, please have your student explain the rules they need to remember when rounding whole numbers and how they can use benchmarks on a number line to round whole numbers.
5 Rounding Decimals In their Math notebook, have your student describe the rules for rounding decimals.
6 Estimating Sums and Differences Please have your student describe some strategies they learned to estimate sums and differences in their Math notebook.
7 Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers In their Math Notebook, have your student explain multiplication with compatible numbers.
8 Division Using Compatible Numbers In their Math Notebook, have your student explain division with compatible numbers.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Decimal Place Values
  1. How are tenths written as decimals?
  2. How are hundredths written as decimals?
  3. How do you represent the thousandths?
Expanded Form
  1. How do you represent numbers in expanded form?
  2. How do you return to standard form from expanded form?
Comparing Decimals
  1. How do you compare decimals using place value?
  2. How do you compare decimals that don’t have the same number of digits?
Rounding Whole Numbers
  1. How do you decide whether to round up or down when looking at multi-digit numbers?
  2. How do you use benchmarks on a number line to round whole numbers?
Rounding Decimals
  1. What does it mean to round to the tenths and hundredths?
  2. Are there any differences between rounding whole numbers and rounding decimals?
Estimating Sums and Differences
  1. How do you use rounding when estimating answers to addition and subtraction problems?
Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers
  1. What are compatible numbers?
Division Using Compatible Numbers
  1. How do you estimate division using compatible numbers?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question
Decimal Place Values Decimal Place Value
  1. How is decimal place value different from whole number place value?
Expanded Form Expanded form
  1. How do you represent numbers in expanded form?
Comparing Decimals Comparing Decimals
  1. What are the symbols we use to compare numbers?
  2. How do you compare decimals?
Rounding Whole Numbers Rounding Whole Numbers
  1. What are the rules involved in rounding whole numbers?
Rounding Decimals Rounding Decimals
  1. What rules do you follow when rounding decimals?
Estimating Sums and Differences Estimating Sums and Differences
  1. What is estimating?
  2. How do you use rounding when estimating answers to addition and subtraction problems?
Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers Multiplication Using Compatible Numbers
  1. How can you use compatible numbers to multiply?
Division Using Compatible Numbers Division Using Compatible Numbers
  1. How can you use compatible numbers to divide?

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle Cindy Neuschwander 670L
2 Great Estimations Bruce Goldstone 560L
3 Let's Estimate: A Book About Estimating and Rounding Numbers David A. Adler AD610L

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing