This activity will help children learn the place values of decimals and will provide practice for reading the decimals out loud. Write the numbers 0 through 9 on individual index cards. Create one index card with a decimal point. Pass out one number card to each child. Randomly select two to three kids to come to the front of the room and stand in a line. Hold the decimal point card between the children in the line. Help the children determine each number's place value and ask for a volunteer to say the decimal aloud. Create new decimals by calling new children to the front of the room.
Help children create their own set of base 10 blocks out of licorice or segmented candy bars. Give each child two whole lengths of licorice or two whole candy bars and instruct them to break one into 10 pieces. Write a decimal on the board and explain about the ones and tenths place values. Explain that the whole piece of candy equals one and the pieces equal tenths. Write various decimals on the board and have the children replicate it with their candy pieces. For example, write 1.3 on the board and ask the children to set aside the whole piece of candy and three smaller pieces to represent the figure.
Introduce decimals to children who have experience with fractions through the use of fraction strips. Draw a long rectangle on a chalk or dry erase board, then divide it into 10 sections and label each section 1/10. Circle a few of the segments and ask the children to write a fraction for the number of segments circled. For three circled segments, the children would write 3/10. Then explain to them how that would be written in decimal form. Divide the children into pairs and give each pair a pile of paper fraction strips. Instruct one child to color in a portion of the segments on each strip while the other child writes it in fraction form. Have the children switch roles after 10 minutes.
Allowing children to work with play money will familiarize them with the basics of decimal points. Give each child a set of play money. Hold up pictures of items that are labeled with a monetary amount. Have the children practice counting out the correct amount of dollars and cents to equal what the item costs. Then instruct the children to write the amount down. Ask the children to choose two items that they would like to purchase and help them add the amounts together. The children will become comfortable writing out basic decimals and adding them together.