The Decimal Number Relay is a fun, fast-paced game that helps students develop their understanding of decimals by accurately placing decimal values on a number line. This collaborative activity encourages students to practise comparing decimals and reasoning about their relative size while working in teams. It’s an excellent way to reinforce decimal concepts in an engaging, hands-on manner.

How to Complete:

1. In teams, students will take turns to place decimal cards along a large number line made from masking tape (from 0 to 1).
2. The game continues until all decimal cards have been placed on the number line.
3. The first group to correctly place all cards along the number line wins the game.

Additional Tips:

1. Print the decimal cards on different coloured cardstock to avoid confusion between teams of students.
2. Emphasise the importance of accuracy by having students double-check their placements before declaring the game complete.
3. Consider using decimals with varying numbers of tenths and hundredths to increase the level of challenge, such as 25, 0.75, 0.05.

Extension Ideas:

1. Reverse the Number Line: Have students place the decimal cards on a number line running from 1 to 0 instead of 0 to 1.
2. Mixed Team Challenge: After the first round, mix up the teams and repeat the game to encourage teamwork with different peers.
3. Decimal Comparison Discussion: After the game, ask students to explain how they decided where to place certain decimals and what strategies they used to compare values.

This resource is part of our Year 4 Maths Unit: Decimals Tenths & Hundredths.