BBC Bitesize: Converting fractions into decimals
What it is: BBC Bitesize consistently has wonderful games and activities for the classroom. The Converting Fractions into Decimals activity isn’t one I have come across in the past, but it is a winner none the less. This is a great place for students to gain some practice with fraction to decimal conversion. The activity is set up like a secret mission. Students get their briefing on the mission (including a short description of how the conversion is performed) and must solve a series of problems to unlock secret doors and compartments.
How to integrate BBC Bitesize Converting Fractions into Decimals into the classroom: I appreciate that BBC Bitesize didn’t just create another boring drill practice game. Instead, they surround students with story and give them a secret mission to complete that puts their newly learned converting skills to use. The activity takes about 10 minutes (more depending on your students) and could be completed independently in a one to one or computer lab setting, as a center rotation in the classroom, or using an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer as a class. If you complete the mission as a class, make sure that each student has the opportunity to solve a problem to help complete the mission. With young students I always like to make a big deal of these type of activities if we are completing them as a class. I might hand out “Top Secret” folders before we do the mission with reminders about how to convert and a few practice problems to jog their memory before completing the BBC Bitesize activity.
Tips: BBC Bitesize has links under the activity where students can read more about converting fractions to decimals and an online quiz they can take.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using BBC Bitesize Converting Fractions into Decimals in your classroom!