Fractions, Decimals and Percentages — Year 6 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Mathematics — Number: fractions (including decimals and percentages), Year 6
Overview
Pupils consolidate and extend their ability to convert fluently between fractions, decimals, and percentages, and to use these interchangeably in calculations and comparisons. They apply this understanding to solve problems involving percentage change, discount, and proportion in real-life contexts.
Learning Objectives
- Convert fluently between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
- Order and compare fractions, decimals, and percentages in mixed sets.
- Find percentages of amounts, including non-calculator methods for key percentages.
- Solve problems involving percentage increase, decrease, and comparison.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Quick-fire conversion: teacher calls out a fraction, pupils write the equivalent decimal and percentage on whiteboards. Include ½, ¼, ¾, ⅕, ⅖, ⅛. Identify any gaps.
Review conversion methods. Extend to non-standard fractions: to convert 3/8 to a percentage, divide 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375 = 37.5%. Model percentage increase/decrease: new value = original × (100 ± %) ÷ 100. Show a comparison problem: 'Which is better value: 20% off £45 or ⅕ off £50?'
Pupils order a mixed set of fractions, decimals, and percentages on a number line. Then solve two percentage-change problems, showing working.
Differentiated problems: fluency (conversion and ordering), application (percentage change), reasoning ('Explain why 0.4 > 35%').
A price is reduced by 15%. Is 15% off £80 the same saving as 10% off £120? Pupils calculate and compare, discussing the concept of percentage as relative, not absolute.
Common Misconceptions
- Treating percentages as absolute rather than relative — 15% of a large number is more than 15% of a small number.
- Converting incorrectly: 3/8 ≠ 38% — pupils must divide numerator by denominator, not concatenate the digits.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Fluency in common fraction/decimal/percentage equivalents.
- Ability to find 10%, 1%, and 50% of amounts.
- Understanding of ratio and proportion.
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