Decimal Games for Kids

What Are Decimals?

Decimals are numbers that consist of both the whole number part and fractional/decimal part, separated by the decimal point. 

Decimals are a fundamental part of the base-10 numbering system used in mathematics. They represent a fractional or decimal portion of a whole number. The decimal point separates the whole number from the fractional part, allowing precise values between two consecutive integers. 

Decimals offer a flexible way to express numbers with greater accuracy, making them indispensable in science, finance, and everyday calculations. Understanding decimals is essential for working with measurements, percentages, and performing operations involving fractions and real numbers.

Decimal Place Value Chart

Decimals consist of two parts separated by a decimal point. The left side represents the whole number part. The right side represents the fractional part.

As you move to the right, the place value gets 10 times bigger than the place value immediately to the left.

As you move to the right, the place value gets 10 times smaller than the place value immediately to the right.
 

Hundreds	Tens	Ones	Decimal Point	Tenths	Hundredths	Thousandths
100	10	1		\(\frac{1}{10}\)	\(\frac{1}{100}\)	\(\frac{1}{1000}\)

 

• The first digit to the left is the ones digit, the second is the tens, and the third is the hundreds, and so on. 
• The first digit to the right is the tenths, the second is the hundredths, the third is the thousandths, and so on. Each place value to the right is 10 times smaller than the one to its left. Explore Identify Tenths Games and Identify Hundredths Games for better understanding!

 

Example: The fraction \(\frac{32}{100}\) is read as thirty-two hundredths and represented in decimals as 0.32. The place value model representation of 0.32 is as shown below:
 

 

Understanding decimal place values is vital for accurate number reading and manipulation. Practice and reinforce this concept with interactive decimal place value games. Strengthen your numerical skills and have fun with decimal place value challenges now!

How To Read and Write Decimals

Reading and writing decimals involves interpreting and expressing decimal numbers correctly. Reading decimals involves identifying the value of each digit based on its position relative to the decimal point, while writing decimals requires placing digits accurately according to their place values.  To read and write decimals using a place value chart, follow these steps:

How To Read Decimals

Always start from the left side of the decimal point. Each digit represents its place value, such as ones, tens, hundreds, and so on, going to the left. Then, move to the right side of the decimal point. Each digit represents its place value, such as tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on, going to the right.

Example: Consider the decimal number 47.235.

Starting from the left side of the decimal point, "4" is in the tens place, "7" is in the ones place.

Then, moving to the right side of the decimal point, "2" is in the tenths place, "3" is in the hundredths place, and "5" is in the thousandths place.

So, the number 47.235 can be read as “forty-seven and two hundred thirty-five thousandths.”

We generally prefer to read it as “forty-seven point two hundred and thirty-five.”

How To Write Decimals

Begin with the whole number part and write the digits as per their place values to the left of the decimal point. Then, write the digits as per their place values to the right of the decimal point for the fractional part. If there are no digits to the left of the decimal point, place a "0" before it to signify the absence of a whole number.

Example: Let's represent the number three and seventy-five hundredths as a decimal.

Start with the whole number part: 3

Now, write the decimal point: 3.

For the fractional part, write the digits as per their place values: 0.75.

Thus, the decimal representation of the number is 3.75.

Master this skill with engaging activities and exercises to improve numerical fluency. Explore exciting "read and write decimals games” to enhance your decimals proficiency and enjoy learning at the same time!

Types of Decimals

Decimals can be classified based on their decimal expansion as

1) Terminating Decimals: These decimals have a finite number of digits after the decimal point. For example, 0.25, 0.75, and 2.5 are terminating decimals.

2) Non-terminating Decimals: These decimals have an infinite number of digits after the decimal point. The decimal expansion is non-terminating.

Such decimals can be further classified into two categories:

i) Non-terminating and Repeating Decimals: They are also simply called Recurring decimals or Repeating decimals. Repeating decimals have a pattern of digits that repeat infinitely after the decimal point. All repeating decimals are rational numbers.

For example, 0.333... (repeating 3s), 0.666... (repeating 6s), and 0.142857142857... (repeating pattern 142857) are repeating decimals.

ii) Non-terminating and Non-repeating Decimals: These decimals have an infinite number of non-repeating digits after the decimal point, and they cannot be expressed as a fraction. These decimals are irrational numbers.

Examples include π (3.14159...) and \(\sqrt{2}\) (1.41421356...).

Strengthen your understanding of decimal types with interactive Types of Decimals Games! 

Comparing and Ordering Decimals

Comparing and ordering decimals is a crucial skill in mathematics. 

When comparing decimals, focus on the whole number part first. The decimal with the greater whole number part is larger. If the whole number parts are equal, compare the digits to the right of the decimal point, moving from left to right until you find the first differing digit. 

Ordering decimals involves arranging them from least to greatest or vice versa. 

Example: Let's consider the decimals 0.35, 0.2, and 0.45.

Compare the whole number parts. In this case, all three decimals have a whole number part of 0.

Next, move on to compare the tenths place. The decimals 0.35 and 0.45 both have 3 in the tenths place, but 0.2 has 2 in the tenths place.

2 < 3 < 4

Thus, 0.2 < 0.35 < 0.45.

The decimals in ascending order are 0.2, 0.35, and 0.45.

Try out fun "Compare and Order Decimals Games” to strengthen your decimal comparison and ordering abilities with interactive activities. 

Convert between Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages is a crucial skill in mathematics.
 

 

Fractions represent a part of a whole, decimals are a way to express fractions in decimal form, and percentages are fractions multiplied by 100. 

• To convert fractions to decimals, divide the numerator by the denominator. 
• To convert decimals to percentages, multiply by 100 and add the percentage symbol (%). 
• To convert percentages to decimals, divide by 100. 

Decimal conversion to percentage and fractions can be summarized as follows:
 

 

Mastering these conversions aids in better understanding and applying numerical representations across various mathematical concepts and real-life situations. Explore Converting between Decimals and Fractions Games for more understanding.

How To Represent Decimals

Representing decimals using models and number lines is a helpful visual method for understanding and comparing decimal values. 

Models: Models like base-10 blocks or grids illustrate the relationship between whole numbers and their fractional parts. For example, in 0.6, there are 6 tenths represented by 6 blocks out of 10. Number lines help show the magnitude of decimals in relation to each other. 

Number Lines: Placing decimals on a number line helps visualize their positions and identify their relative sizes. These visual representations aid in grasping the concept of decimals and their place values, making math learning more engaging and accessible.

Enjoy these interactive “Represent Decimals Games” for hands-on practice!

Progression of Decimal Concepts with Grades
 

Grade	Concepts
Grade 4	• Learn about decimals with tenths and hundredths • Read, write and compare numbers in decimal notation • Represent, compare, and order decimals to the hundredths by reasoning about their size. • Write tenths and hundredths in decimal notation (Use decimal notation for fractions with denominators 10 or 100).
Grade 5	• Place value understanding of decimals up to thousandths • Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths • Compare, round and order decimals through the thousandths place based on the value of the digits in each place. • Read, write, and represent decimals to the thousandths place, including in expanded form. • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models, place value strategies, and properties of operations

 

Play and Learn: Teaching Aids for Decimals

• Place Value Models: Place value models for decimals use visual representations to show the relationship between whole numbers and their fractional parts. 

Example: The place value model representation of decimal number 25.61 is as shown below:
 

 

• Base-10 Blocks: Base-10 blocks for decimals are a visual aid to represent place values, where each block represents a fraction of one whole. For instance, a flat (figure 1) represents one whole, a rod (figure 2) represents tenths, and a cube or a unit (figure 3) represents hundredths. By arranging these blocks, students can easily grasp the concept of decimals and perform operations with greater understanding.
   

 

Example: \(\frac{32}{100}\) can be expanded to:

\(\frac{32}{100} = \frac{30}{100} + \frac{2}{100}\)
 

\(\frac{32}{100}\) can also be expanded to

\(\frac{32}{100} = \frac{3}{10} + \frac{2}{100}\)
 

 

0.32 = 0.30 + 0.02 = 0.3 + 0.02 (since 0.30 = 0.3)

Thus, 0.32 = 30 hundredths + 2 hundredths = 3 tenths + 2 hundredths 

• Number Lines:

Using number lines for decimals is familiar to children as they have used it for whole numbers. To make math engaging, teachers can ask them to place decimals like 0.32 or 32/100 on the number line. By understanding relative values, children can position them accurately. For example, \(\frac{32}{100}\) lies between \(\frac{30}{100}\)  = 0.3 and \(\frac{40}{100}\) = 0.4, closer to \(\frac{30}{100}\) = 0.3, and thus, they can place it accordingly. This activity fosters a deeper understanding of decimals and their placement on the number line.
 

 

Observe the given diagram to understand the divisions between two whole numbers. 
 

 

How To Teach Real Life Relevance of Decimals to Kids

• Introduce decimals through money: Teach children how decimals are used in real-life situations when dealing with money, like counting cents or making change for purchases.
• Decimals in recipes: Use recipes to demonstrate the importance of decimals in measuring ingredients accurately, such as adding 0.5 cups of flour or 0.25 teaspoons of baking soda.
• Travel and Distance: Help children understand decimals by discussing distances during family trips or vacations, like how 3.5 miles might be the distance to a favorite destination or 0.75 miles to the nearest park.

Importance of Introducing Decimals to Kids through Games

Using online fun decimal games to teach decimals combines joy with learning, making it an effective and enjoyable approach to help kids grasp and apply decimal concepts in real-life situations.

• Interactive Decimal Practice: Online math games for decimals allow kids to interact with decimals, making learning more enjoyable. Games often use engaging visuals, like decimal grids or animations, to aid understanding and make decimal concepts more accessible to kids. For example, a game could ask children to compare decimals on a number line.
• Reinforcement of Decimal Concepts: Decimal games online provide repetitive practice, helping kids reinforce their understanding of decimals, such as adding and subtracting decimals in a virtual store checkout.
• Real-life Applications: Online decimal games for kids often use decimals in scenarios like measuring ingredients for recipes, linking decimals to everyday situations, and enhancing their real-life relevance.
• Immediate Feedback: Decimal interactive games provide instant feedback, allowing kids to learn from their mistakes and improve their decimal skills in real-time. For example, a game that provides hints for placing decimals on a number line offers immediate guidance.

Learning Decimals: Math Games vs. Traditional Method

• Unlike conventional methods, which may feel monotonous, decimal math games make learning decimals enjoyable and interactive. Virtual manipulatives like colorful number lines hold children's attention and provide a positive learning environment.
• While traditional methods often follow a one-size-fits-all approach, online decimals  games adapt to individual learning needs (adjust the difficulty level based on each child's performance), providing targeted challenges based on a child's progress, ensuring efficient and effective learning. 
• Math games go beyond theoretical exercises, simulating real-life scenarios where decimals are used practically. This connection to everyday situations bridges the gap between theory and application, which traditional methods may lack.
• While conventional methods might not provide immediate feedback, online interactive decimal games offer instant responses to children's actions. This instant feedback allows kids to learn from mistakes promptly, enabling faster skill development compared to traditional approaches.

What Are 5 Best Fun Games and Activities for Kids on Decimals?

Here are 5 fun Decimals games for kids by SplashLearn!

•  Identify Tenths using Fraction Models Game
• Convert Decimal Numbers into Fractions Game
• Take a Help of a Number Line to Compare Decimals Game
• Compare Decimals using Symbols Game
• Identify Hundredths using Models Game