Get Your Students Comparing and Ordering Decimals

Have you started teaching your students about the concept of a decimal? This is a monumental step in your student’s understanding of numbers. For quite a long time, they have been focused on whole numbers, but now they may be learning about numbers that appear to the right of the decimal point.

This instructional slide deck can teach your students to compare decimals and order them from greatest to least or least to greatest. Within this slide deck, students are presented with two different options to compare and order decimals:

• With a place value chart
• Using a number line

Students are guided through how to compare and order decimals with each method.

Through this activity, students will show they can compare two decimals to the tenths place by reasoning about their size. Additionally, students will recognise that comparisons are valid only when the two decimals refer to the same whole. 

Differentiate This Compare and Order Decimals Activity 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this compare and order decimals slide deck to support your maths lessons. If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

• Help students who need support by chunking up the slide deck. Consider teaching these students how to compare decimals with a place value chart while allowing them to practise this method. When students are ready, introduce how to use a number line to compare and order decimals.
• For students who are ready for a challenge, consider giving them decimals to the hundredths and thousandths place to compare and order. Students can use the same methods (place value chart and number line) to help them with their comparisons.

Download to Start Comparing and Ordering Decimals

Use the Download button to access the Microsoft PowerPoint or the Google Slides version of this resource. Note that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slide to your own personal drive before accessing.

Simply project the slideshow onto your screen for a paperless maths lesson comparing and ordering decimals!

This resource was created by Lauren Blankenship, a Teach Starter collaborator. 

More Resources to Support Lessons on Decimal Place Value

We’ve got more great comparing and ordering decimals resources to cut down on your planning time. Click below for some great suggestions from our teacher team!

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Comparing and Ordering Decimals Year 5 Kaboom Game

Practise comparing and ordering decimals to the thousandths place with an exciting game of Kaboom!

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Ordering Decimals on a Number Line — Year 4 Worksheet

Practice ordering decimals on a number line with this worksheet.

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Decimal Exit Tickets (Place Value, Rounding, Ordering and Computation)

Assess student understanding of decimal place value, rounding, ordering and computation with this set of 21 exit tickets.