How to Teach Decimals to Visual Learners + Free Printable

This auditory learner mom was having difficulty teaching her visual learner so I had to get a little more creative as I figured out how to teach decimals to visual learners.

If you need more math resources, try these fun Math Worksheets for Kids.

Decimals can be a tricky subject to grasp if you don’t have a good understanding of place values. I was first introduced to Decimal Street during Steve Demme’s math curriculum, Math U See. We didn’t stick to his curriculum but I love the way he teaches math. It’s hands-on and emphasizes the use of manipulatives with the blocks.

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How do we apply decimals in real life?

For some, decimals are just a point, but it is more than that. It actually allows us to be precise and the decimals do not just stop with two place values, they can be infinite.

Money and Finances

Decimals are crucial when it comes to finances. For example, when buying groceries and shopping, the tags have decimals on them. It may just be a .05 cents but when added together it can go up to 5 dollars or even more. This is really where the saying “every penny counts” goes.

Measurements

Another real-life application is in measurements. Decimals are great for ensuring the accuracy and precision of things. Decimals are used to be accurate in measuring because even the slightest amount affects the results, especially in sciences and engineering. We even use it to weigh and measure things to calculate their shipment price.

I think moms are the ones who use it the most. We always use it when we are cooking and baking. We measure things to make sure that our food always tastes great, and to follow our recipes for next time!

You might want to try these entertaining Online Decimal Games for your learners.

Recommended Decimal Books

Books are great for visual learners! Here are fictional books great for illustrating how decimals work. Also, I have included a decimal workbook in case you need other references for your lessons.

Fractions, Decimals, and PercentsThe Story of the Funny Little DecimalGary’s Blooming Business: Decimals (Math Matters)Life of Fred Decimals and PercentsKey to Decimals, Books 1-4 Set (KEY TO…WORKBOOKS)Do You Know Dewey?: Exploring the Dewey Decimal System

 

How to teach decimals to visual learners?

Place values

Does your child have a good understanding of place value? If not, then learning about decimals is going to be difficult. You cannot move on until you’ve mastered place value.

If you’re having issues with this topic, then you know you need to backtrack. This is what I learned the hard way. Once we stepped back and reviewed some basics, and notebooked about place values, things came a little bit easier.

Manipulatives

Visual learners need a visual method to learn math. That’s where manipulatives enter. I had to use these printables to teach both fractions and decimals to demonstrate how they are not two separate subjects but how they are related.

When we were studying them as separate subjects, my son was getting frustrated and making careless mistakes, however, once we worked through them and converted questions from decimals to fractions, he was able to get a better grasp of things.

Money

A great, practical way to learn about decimals is to use money. When you’re at the grocery store, have your child carry a clipboard around and add up the prices of food that you are purchasing.

Or have your child help you figure out which purchase is the better value. I was in search of socks for my daughter, and we found two different brands and the price difference was in decimals. So, I asked my daughter which is better to buy by comparing the two, and she gladly picked up the cheaper one!

See more Activities for Visual Learners.

How to Teach Decimals to Visual Learners Printable Supplies

• Printer (I have this one)
• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Cardstock

I have the HP printer 8710 but it’s not available anymore. You can look for another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.

Recommended Math Printables

Counting Money Worksheets

These will help your kids understand the concepts of decimals using these counting money printables. Not only will they learn how to value money, but they will also be able to understand decimals and place values.

Summer Money Puzzles

Now that your kids are studying decimals, why not let them buy something on a budget for your next grocery shopping? Use these summer money puzzles to practice their skills. It is summer-themed so your learners will love these!

Recommended Decimal Math Kits for Visual Learners

These math kits are perfect for your visual learners! Charts, multipliers, and fraction towers are good for their deeper understanding of the subject. And, I have also included entertaining flashcard games and dominoes for them to really enjoy learning all about decimals!

Torlam Fraction Manipulatives for Elementary School, Fraction Circles & Percentage & Decimal Flip ChartEAI Education Decimal Model MultipliersLearning Resources Fraction Tower Equivalency Cubes – 51 Pieces, Ages 6+ Math Learning Toys for Kidshand2mind Fraction and Decimal Dominoes Set, Fraction Manipulatives, Educational Decimal GamesOperations with Fractions & Decimals Learning Charts Combo PackMath Rush 3: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages – A Cooperative Time-Based Math Flash Card Game

 

What’s included in how to teach decimals to visual learners printable?

These 5-pages printables include a page of the equivalent decimals when a whole is divided into different numbers. It is color-coded so that kids will easily understand the concepts of fractions and decimals and how they can be used interchangeably.

There are also labeled and unlabelled pages when the square and circle are divided. It is a good representation of how fractions work and shows the kids visually which is the bigger portion in decimals.

You can cut the pages and paste them on cardstock, and make them put the correct amount on each part or you can also do an oral quiz about it.

You can also quiz them about which decimals are greater or lesser because they will be able to visualize it using this printable. They can learn that in decimals, we look at the first number on the right of the decimal sign and then compare which is bigger. If they are the same, we move to the number beside it, and so on.

Need tips for teaching decimals? Read this post about Decimal Notebooking.

Fun Math Worksheets to Enjoy

Never run out of math worksheets for your learners. Here are other great math printables that you can include in your math lessons.

• How to Teach Fractions to Visual Learners
• Pi Day Color by Multiplication Worksheets
• Community Helpers Time Puzzles
• 100+ Math Worksheets Kids Will Love
• Fall Math Worksheets by Affordable Homeschooling
• Flower Petal Counting & Math Printable by 3 Dinosaurs

Your learners can visually compare the decimals with this printable. It has great representations, and it is color-coded, which is really perfect for visual learners like your kids. Do not miss out on this decimals printable!

Download the Decimals Printable Below

We should always consider and assess our kid’s learning styles. By doing that, we can incorporate resources that are tailored to their needs and encourage learning. For visual learners, great visual aids and hands-on experiences are key to engaging them and giving them confidence in their studies.