A fun 10-minute activity to do with your child!
Your child is learning to add and subtract decimals in math class. The most important skill is lining up the decimal points before calculating! This skill is essential for working with money, measurements, and for the Florida FAST test. No math expertise needed!
Find a recent receipt or look at a menu online. Pick 2-3 items and have your child add up the total price.
Ask: "If I had $20.00 and bought these items, how much change would I get back?" Have your child subtract to find the answer.
Check the work: "Show me how you lined up the decimal points. Did you add zeros where needed?"
Challenge: Give a budget (like $15.00) and have your child pick items that stay under budget, then calculate exactly how much they'd spend.
"When adding or subtracting decimals, always line up the decimal points first! This makes sure you're adding dollars to dollars and cents to cents."
Measure two objects in your home (like the length of a book and a tablet). Record the measurements in centimeters or inches with decimals.
Ask: "What's the total length if we put these two objects end to end?" Have your child add the measurements.
Ask: "How much longer is the bigger object?" Have your child subtract to find the difference.
"Carpenters, engineers, and scientists add and subtract decimals all the time when measuring. Being accurate with decimals helps them build things correctly!"
Just 10 minutes of practice at home can make a big impact on your child's confidence and success. Adding and subtracting decimals is a life skill they'll use every day - from shopping to cooking to managing money. Thank you for being part of their learning journey!
Su hijo esta aprendiendo a sumar y restar decimales. La regla mas importante es: ALINEAR LOS PUNTOS DECIMALES. Cuando sumamos o restamos decimales, primero alineamos los puntos decimales y luego agregamos ceros como marcadores de posicion si es necesario. Las actividades de arriba usan el dinero y las medidas para practicar. Gracias por apoyar el aprendizaje de su hijo!