For this teaching activity, you'll need to draw on the board vertical lines designating place value and place a decimal point as well. Call three or four children to the front and hand each a different number written on construction paper. Tell them that they are going to make a living decimal. Call out a decimal number and then let the children arrange themselves in order in front of the correct place value space written on the board. Once they are satisfied with their arrangement, ask the remaining class members to check their work.
Create a number line on a board using thumbtacks or magnets, depending on the surface. Number from 1 to 10 with plenty of space between to allow for decimal numbers to be placed. Pass out to students, in groups of 3 or 4 at a time, decimal numbers written on index cards. The students are to find where on the number line their decimal number belongs and put the index card in place with thumbtacks or magnets. The rest of the class can check their work before allowing the next group of students to take their turn with new index card decimal numbers.
For this decimal learning activity, you'll need to provide pairs of students with a piece of paper, pencil, and a die. On the board, model the number students will be filling in, as in 0.000, to show place values. Students will take turn rolling their die and choosing which space to write the number rolled in order to create the largest number. Whoever rolls, on their turn they get to choose which space they place that number. The next student rolls the die, and chooses where to place that number on their paper. At the end of four rolls of the die for each student, they will compare numbers to see who made the larger number. You can repeat the game with the aim of creating the smallest number.
Draw a rectangle on the board and divide it into ten sections. Discuss how you can refer to each square section as one-tenth. Next color in some of the squares and have children discuss how you would describe that amount. For instance, color in three squares and explain that would be three-tenths. Continue doing this until the class is clear on the idea. Then to further expand their understanding, use dollars and coins to come up with different money amounts which you then show the class how to write out as a decimal number. Practice with amounts and writing as a decimal together.