Decimal numbers is often a challenging concept for students. When teaching decimal numbers, I first review the basics of thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones and then introduce tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. I always start with decimal fractions and how they translate into decimal numbers. Make sure that your students understand that decimal numbers are just numbers the come between whole numbers (integers) just like fractions and express part of the whole. Using number lines is very important as it allows students to compare decimal numbers. Grids of 10, 100 and 1000 also allow the students to visualize the decimal numbers and understand equivalence. Money is a great way to practice decimals as well.
Tips when teaching decimals
- Use money and discuss how the coins represent ones, tenths and hundredths. Explain that the decimal part refers to a fraction of a whole dollar as opposed to a whole number of nickels, dimes, or quarters.
- Discuss how the decimal point always separates the ones from the tenths and hundredths.
- Practice reading decimals.
- Provide visuals to show equivalent decimals.
- Discuss how placing zeros before the leftmost digit does not change the number’s value. (equivalence)
- Show strategies for comparing decimal numbers. (grids, number line)
Below is a collection of decimal-numbers printable and digital task cards. The cards aim to help students practice decimal numbers and decimal fractions, recognize equivalent decimal numbers, and percentages and clear any misconceptions with visuals. Some examples below.
Print cards




Digital activity cards










As always here is the free version of the print cards and a link to the free google slides version.
The premium version includes 60 print activities and 70 digital ones.
Get the premium version here.
How to use the cards
The cards can be used as visual help, to initiate discussions, for practice, assessment, and enrichment for early finishers.
Check out our other decimal number resources
Representing decimal numbers with base 10 blocks visual activity cards (google slides version included)

Below are some games to practice decimals, decimal fractions and percentages.
Check out our Decimals card games, the cards make great visuals and can be used in many activities. Many ideas included in the post.

Check out Decimal Escape a free simple board game to practice decimals.

Please like and subscribe for more giveaways and updates.
Explore the rest of our free print to play games, task cards, worksheets, puzzles and more.
Check out our best selling games, available at amazon.com and amazon.ca


Pingback: Decimal Escape – Mathcurious
Pingback: Decimal Fractions – Decimals Card Games – Mathcurious
Pingback: Fraction escape (make one whole) – Mathcurious
Pingback: Fraction Four (equivalent Fractions) – Mathcurious
Pingback: Fraction Four (Make one) – Mathcurious
Pingback: Dividing Fractions -Understanding the algorithm (Print and Digital Activities) – Mathcurious