A fun 10-minute activity to do with your child!
Your child is learning about decimals in math class. Decimals are another way to write fractions - for example, 0.5 is the same as 1/2. Understanding decimals is important because we use them every day with money and measurements. Below are simple activities you can do at home to help your child succeed. No math expertise needed!
Show your child different coins. Ask: "How many pennies make a dollar?" (100) "So what decimal is 1 penny?" (0.01 - one hundredth of a dollar)
Ask: "How many dimes make a dollar?" (10) "So what decimal is 1 dime?" (0.10 or 0.1 - one tenth of a dollar)
Give your child some coins and ask them to write the amount as a decimal. For example: 3 dimes and 5 pennies = $0.35
Challenge: "If you have $0.75, what coins could you have?" (Many answers: 3 quarters, 7 dimes + 5 pennies, etc.)
"Pennies are hundredths (0.01) and dimes are tenths (0.10). Just like in decimals, the first place after the decimal is tenths and the second place is hundredths!"
Look at a ruler together. Point out that each centimeter is divided into 10 smaller parts (millimeters). Ask: "What decimal is 5 millimeters?" (0.5 cm)
Have your child measure small objects. If something is 3 cm and 7 mm, help them write it as 3.7 cm.
Compare measurements: "Is 2.8 cm more or less than 2.5 cm? How do you know?"
"Decimals help us be more precise when measuring. Instead of saying 'a little more than 3 centimeters,' we can say exactly 3.4 centimeters!"
Just 10 minutes of practice at home can make a big impact on your child's confidence and success. Decimals are everywhere - in money, measurements, sports statistics, and more. When you point out decimals in everyday life, you're helping your child see that math is useful and important. Thank you for being part of their learning journey!
Su hijo esta aprendiendo sobre decimales. Los decimales son otra forma de escribir fracciones - por ejemplo, 0.5 es igual a 1/2. Use monedas para practicar: un centavo = 0.01 (un centesimo de dolar), una moneda de 10 centavos = 0.10 (un decimo de dolar). Practique comparando decimales: 0.9 es mayor que 0.85 porque 0.9 = 0.90, y 90 centesimos es mas que 85 centesimos. Gracias por apoyar el aprendizaje de su hijo!