4th Grade Mathematics — Fractions and Decimals — Parts of God's Whole
Students will learn what decimals are, how to read and write them, and understand place value in tenths and hundredths.
A decimal is another way to write a fraction, using a decimal point instead of a fraction bar. The decimal 0.5 means the same as 1/2. The decimal 0.25 means the same as 1/4. Decimals are based on the number 10.
The first place after the decimal point is the tenths place. The number 0.3 means 3 tenths, or 3/10. The second place is the hundredths place. The number 0.07 means 7 hundredths, or 7/100. The number 0.35 means 35 hundredths, or 35/100.
We use decimals every day, especially with money! One dollar and fifty cents is written as $1.50. The 5 is in the tenths place (5 dimes) and the 0 is in the hundredths place (0 pennies). A quarter is $0.25 — 2 dimes and 5 pennies.
Just as God's Word is precise and true (Psalm 119:160), decimals give us a precise way to express numbers. Whether we write 1/2 or 0.5, the value is the same. God built precision and order into mathematics, and learning decimals helps us appreciate His design.
Using play money or real coins, practice writing amounts as decimals: 3 quarters = $0.75, 1 dime and 3 pennies = $0.13. Then shade a 10x10 grid to represent these decimals: 0.4, 0.75, 0.08, 0.50.