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Lesson plan

Calculating with Number: Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals & Estimation

Teacher-facing plan: I do · We do · You do.

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Explicit teaching — I Do (~15 min)

1. Whole-number strategies WA6MNAC1

2. Fractions with related denominators WA6MNAC2

A fraction wall aligning one whole, halves, quarters and eighths so equivalent fractions line up.
Rename to a common denominator using the wall before adding.

Model 1/2 + 1/4 by converting 1/2 to 2/4, giving 3/4.

3. Decimals WA6MNAC3, C4

4. Fraction/percentage of a quantity & 5. Estimation WA6MNAC5–C6

Guided practice — We Do (~20 min)

  1. Strategy showcase. Pose 397 + 248. Collect three different strategies from the class and discuss which is most efficient and why.
  2. Fraction-wall work. Together compute 2/3 + 1/6 and 3/4 − 1/2 using the wall.
  3. Decimal line-up. Add 12.7 + 9.45 with a place-value chart, then divide 45.0 by 10 and 100, watching the digits shift.
  4. Estimate then check. Estimate five products or quotients, then check with exact calculation and compare.

Independent practice — You Do (~15 min)

Differentiated worksheet (sections map to WA6MNAC1–C6):

  • solve whole-number problems, choosing and naming an efficient strategy;
  • add and subtract fractions with related denominators;
  • add/subtract decimals to 2 dp; multiply decimals by whole numbers; multiply/divide by 10, 100, 1000;
  • find a fraction, decimal or percentage of a whole number;
  • estimate first, then calculate, and comment on reasonableness.