BrainPOP, . (Designer). (2010). Decimals. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.brainpop.com/math/numbersandoperations/decimals/
This video shows my students different ways that the decimal point matters. By giving students examples of how the decimal point is used, like timing a swimming event, my students will learn the purpose of a decimal point. Visual representation of a decimal as a fraction is provided also, giving my students a concrete example of how the two numbers relate. My students will relate well to the simple, purposeful language used to convey decimals in this video.
Fitzgerald, Theresa. Math dictionary for kids: the essential guide to math terms, strategies, and tables. Prufrock Pr, 2005. 98-100. Print.
This resource is a great book for my students to use as a reference for comparing and computing numbers with decimals as outlined in my math unit. For most of my students this book would be at their independent reading level. The book is very user friendly as it provides a short, step-by-step process in the computation of decimals as well as examples next to the corresponding explanations. This guide would be used as supplementary material for my students to reference when asked to compute numbers with decimals.
Gifford, S, & Thaler, S. (2004). Piece = part = portion: fractions = decimals = percents. Tricycle Pr.
This book is a good resource for those few of my students who need assistance in understanding the abstract concepts of what fractional portion decimals represent. This book would be able to be read independently by my students as it is targeted for early elementary aged students. In this resource, a visual representation is shown to represent specific decimal amounts. The decimals increase throughout the book starting at .08 through 1.00. I would use this as a supplemental source to help teach estimating as it gives students who need visuals to help understand decimal amounts.
Math playground. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_multiplydecimals.html
This audio/video helps guide my students through a topic covered in my math unit of multiplying numbers with decimals. I like this video because the narrator not only explains the process of multiplying numbers with decimals but explains how to check their answers using language that would be very helpful for my students. Understanding how three tenths multiplied by two tenths gives you six hundredths is an abstract concept, but by the author comparing the process in fraction form it allows for a deeper level of understanding for my students. This presentation is at the instructional reading level for most of my class. I would supplement this video with a guided worksheet in order to aide in my students’ comprehension of the material.
Scieszka, Jon, and Lane Smith. Math Curse. Viking Juvenile, 1995. Print.
This book is targeted for students in the early elementary grades; therefore, my students in the fifth grade could read this independently. Math Curse identifies how daily activities such as estimating time, arranging desks into rows and estimating decimals to determine the importance of a baseball player’s batting average can all be analyzed through a mathematical lens. I would use this book as a read aloud to introduce my math unit to show a unique way of computing decimals. This book is a great way to motivate my students to tackle mathematical problems such as estimating and computing decimals which is specifically related to my math unit.
Scieszka, J (Writer). (2003). Math Curse [Television series episode]. In (Executive producer), Reading Rainbow. Buffalo
This television show is based off of the book Math Curse by Jon Scieszka in which a girl is faced with problems in her everyday activities that all seem to be related to math. The students in my class would be able to understand this video with ease as it is targeted at their independent reading level. Throughout the show, we learn how math is important in a variety of professions including a post office worker who must determine the amount of 32 cent stamps needed to place on a package that costs $1.12. In this problem we see how the division of numbers with decimals is an important process to understand. This mathematical concept is a topic covered directly in my math unit with the division of numbers with decimals. This show is a fun and meaningful way to show how decimals can be used in everyday life.
Tang, G. (2001). The grapes of math. New York, New York: Scholastic Press.
This resource teaches my students to find patterns to solve mathematical problems. This children’s book is designed for early elementary aged children; therefore, my fifth grade students will be able to read this independently. In this book, students are asked to group and regroup numbers in different ways. This book will prepare my students for tasks that require the use of compatible numbers which is a topic specific to my math unit.
Wegmans. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductListView?forwardto=ProductListView&langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&N=207
This website could be read and understood easily with my class as it is written at their independent reading level. Within this website, items that are able to be purchased at Wegmans are listed along with their purchase value. As the teacher, I would supplement my students learning of adding decimals by asking them to create a list of items they would need from Wegmans in order to throw a birthday party for a friend. There would be no limit on how much could be spent but the students would need to create a running total for every two items purchased. The students must then add the running totals to determine the total cost of the shopping extravaganza.
Williams, M. (Producer). (2008). Estimating decimals. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/mrwilliams-83235-3-estimating-decimals-audio-6thgrade-math-education-ppt-powerpoint/
This audio/digital PowerPoint presentation is a great resource to use as a way for my students to practice estimating numbers with decimals. This presentation is at the instructional level for most of my class which requires me as the teacher to go over key vocabulary terms and provide activities prior to watching the PowerPoint to activate prior knowledge. The tasks found in this video require my students to have moderate understanding of how to estimate to the whole number which is a topic specifically covered within my math unit. What I like about this video is that the narrator provides guidance as the students practice using estimation to solve real world problems.
