teaching resource

Subtracting Decimals With Base-10 Blocks – Teaching Slides for 5th Grade

  • Updated

    Updated:  21 Sep 2023

Teach your students how to use base-10 blocks to model decimal subtraction problems with this set of teaching slides.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Pages

    Pages:  1 Page

  • Curriculum
  • Grade

    Grade:  5

Curriculum

teaching resource

Subtracting Decimals With Base-10 Blocks – Teaching Slides for 5th Grade

  • Updated

    Updated:  21 Sep 2023

Teach your students how to use base-10 blocks to model decimal subtraction problems with this set of teaching slides.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Pages

    Pages:  1 Page

  • Curriculum
  • Grade

    Grade:  5

Teach your students how to use base-10 blocks to model decimal subtraction problems with this set of teaching slides.

Subtracting Decimals With Base-10 Blocks

By the time students enter 5th grade, they probably understand how to use base-10 blocks to subtract whole numbers. Another way these math manipulatives can be used is to represent decimal subtraction problems. The blocks represent different numbers in this case, but can still be used in the same way. When using base-10 blocks with decimals, the following numbers can be used:

  • A flat (100 unit cubes) represents one whole.
  • A rod (10 unit cubes) represents one tenth.
  • A unit cube represents one hundredth.

This set of teaching slides includes practice opportunities to model decimal subtraction problems with and without grouping. Students will have the opportunity to practice removing and regrouping base-10 blocks to model a variety of subtraction problems. This set of teaching slides does include an interactive component if you wish to use it. Otherwise, students can practice representing each problem on a mini-whiteboard or a piece of paper.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Help students who need help understanding the concepts by providing physical base-10 blocks for students to use. Students can manipulate the materials to model each decimal subtraction problem.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

Students who need an additional challenge can use base-10 block drawings to represent more challenging problems.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the Download button to access the editable Google Slides version of this resource. 


This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

Image of Subtracting Decimals with Base-Ten Blocks – Board Game

teaching resource

Subtracting Decimals with Base-Ten Blocks – Board Game

Use this board game to encourage friendly competition while practicing how to subtract decimals with visual models.

Teach Starter Publishing1 pageGrade: 5
Image of Adding and Subtracting Decimals with Base-10 Blocks – Worksheet

teaching resource

Adding and Subtracting Decimals with Base-10 Blocks – Worksheet

Use this worksheet when teaching your students how to model adding and subtracting decimals with base-10 blocks.

Teach Starter Publishing1 pageGrade: 5
Image of Decimal Subtraction with Base-Ten Blocks — Differentiated 5th Grade Worksheets

teaching resource

Decimal Subtraction with Base-Ten Blocks — Differentiated 5th Grade Worksheets

Use these worksheets when teaching your students how to model subtracting decimals with base-10 blocks.

Teach Starter Publishing4 pagesGrade: 5

0 Comments

Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above.

Log in to comment

You may also like