Year 8 Term 2 Week 1 Maths - Decimals
- Sallyann Clark
- Sep 15
- 5 min read
Introduction
This week you will be learning about:
integers
Negative Numbers
Decimal Numbers
Place Value
Multiplying/dividing by 10, 100, 1000
Rounding Numbers
Real World Application
Weather and Temperature
Meteorologists use integers and decimals every day when reporting temperatures. For example, temperatures can be negative (below zero) in winter or positive in summer. Accurate decimals help forecast weather precisely, like 23.7°C instead of just 24°C. Rounding can simplify reports for quick understanding, but sometimes exact decimals are important for scientific data.
Day 1
What I am Learning Today
I am learning to understand and work with positive and negative integers and to recognise them in real-life situations. I will also be learning to add and subtract integers.
This week should mostly be revision of work covered in year 7.
What are Integers?
Integers are whole numbers, including positive numbers, zero, and negative numbers (e.g., -3, 0, 7).
Integers are whole numbers — they can be positive, negative, or zero. You’ll find them everywhere: the temperature outside, the score in a football match, or the balance on your bank statement. Today, we’re focusing on what integers are and how to add and subtract them.
Game
Go to Mathsplayground and play Bin, Bing, Bingo! I would like you to be able to complete level 3 but if you find this too tricky try level 2 or 1.
Learn
This section will direct you to videos, websites, or presentations to help you learn today's content. Hopefully, you will find the resources helpful. If you like a particular resource, consider exploring what else they offer or bookmark it for future reference when you get stuck.
Never click off the resource I send you to! If a link does not work, try copying the description I give at the top of all the videos and searching for the video. If you have time let me know the link needs updating.
Watch: Integers An Introduction by Anywhere Maths.
Work through BBC Bitesize:What are positive and negative numbers?
Watch Corbettmaths: Addition and Subtraction Involving Negative Numbers.
Task
In your maths journal:
Write the title Integers.
Write a definition of an integer.
Draw a number line to illustrate positive and negative numbers.
Write and demonstrate the rules for adding or subtracting negative numbers.
Write and answer the following questions.
a) 5 + (-3)
b) -7 + 4
c) -8 - 5
d) 12 - (-6)
In each of the following, write down the integer which is:
a) 4 greater than -3
b) 6 less than 8
c) 10 greater than -12
d) 5 less than -2
Complete levels 1-3 on Transum Negative Numbers, if you are confident, start at level 3!
Conclusion
We’ve introduced integers and practised adding/subtracting them. Tomorrow, we’ll start exploring decimals and how they relate to place value.
Day 2
What am I learning today?
I am learning to understand the place value of digits in decimal numbers, to compare and order decimal numbers and to be able to read and write them correctly.
What are Decimals?
Decimals are used to represent numbers between whole numbers. They’re common in money, measurements, and science. Understanding where each digit sits is key to getting your answers right.
Game
Play Minus Miners on Mangahigh. Watch the tutorial first to work out what to do!
Learn
Watch MathAntics: Arithmetic with decimals. This should be revision; if not then go and work through this KhanAcademy unit first. It is ok if it takes you a couple of days to finish the unit, but it is crucial that you understand how to work with decimals.
If you are confident working with decimals, move on to today's task. If not, work through BBC Bitesize: Decimals KS3.
Task
In your maths journal:
Write the title Decimals.
Write a definition of a decimal.
Draw a number line to illustrate decimal numbers.
Write an example and demonstrate the method for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimal numbers.
Write and answer the following questions.
Write the following numbers in order from smallest to largest:
4.5, 4.05, 4.55, 4.505
Insert <, >, or = between the pairs of numbers:
a) 3.06 3.60
b) 2.509 2.59
c) 8.25 __ 8.250
Write the decimal represented by each:
a) 3 ones, 5 tenths, 2 hundredths
b) 7 tens, 4 hundredths
Conclusion
Now you know how decimals work and how to order them. Tomorrow, we’ll put integers and decimals together for some mixed-number challenges.
Day 3
What am I learning today?
I am learning to recognise the value of each digit in integers and decimals and how to multiply/divide by 10, 100, or 1000.
What is place value?
Place value is the backbone of all number work. Every digit’s position tells you how big or small it is — and moving it changes its value dramatically.
Game
Play Mathsplayground: Number Conundrums Decimals
Learn
Watch MinityMaths: Decimal Place Value.
Watch Khanacademy: Multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000.
Task
In your maths journal:
Write the title Place Value.
Draw your own place value chart that includes a decimal number and label each number, e.g. tenths, hundreds...
Write down examples to show what happens to a number when you multiply or divide by 10, 100 or 1000.
Answer the following questions:
Write the value of the bold digit:
a) 3.46
b) 0.063
c) 58.09 2
Multiply and divide:
a) 4.5 × 10 =
b) 0.34 × 100 =
c) 6.2 ÷ 10 =
d) 83 ÷ 1000 =
Fill in the missing numbers:
a) 0.5 × = 50
b) ÷ 100 = 0.07
Conclusion
You can now read any number with confidence and understand what each digit means. Tomorrow, we’ll start rounding numbers.
Day 4
What am I learning today?
I am learning to round integers and decimals to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000.
What is rounding?
Rounding makes numbers easier to work with in everyday life, like estimating shopping costs or distances. But rounding correctly is essential to maintain accuracy.
Game
Play Wordall: Multiplying and Dividing by 10,100, 1000
Learn
Watch Cognito: How to round decimal places.
Work through BBC Bitesize: Rounding Numbers (decimals).
Task
In your maths journal:
Write the title Rounding Decimals
Record what you have learned about how to round decimals
Answer the following questions:
Round to the nearest 10:
a) 146
b) 982
Round to the nearest 100:
a) 6,543
b) 2,481
Round to 1 decimal place:
a) 4.37
b) 5.96
Round to 2 decimal places:
a) 3.456
b) 9.999
Conclusion
You can now round both whole numbers and decimals. Tomorrow, we’ll finish the week with plenty of practice.
Day 5 - Project
What am I learning today?
I am learning to apply my understanding of integers, decimals, place value, and rounding to a real-life project, using calculations to solve practical problems. I will also be learning to display my findings clearly.
Introduction
You’re going to run your own pop-up shop for the day. You’ll choose what you sell, decide on prices, work out totals for customers, and make sure your numbers are neat and easy to understand using rounding.
Task – The Pop-Up Shop Challenge
Choose 6 items to sell (could be food, stationery, toys, sports equipment, etc.). Give each item a price with two decimal places.
Create 5 customers with different shopping lists (between 2–4 items each) or ask friends or family you may be with today to be your customers..
For each customer:
Add the prices to find the total cost.
Round the total cost to the nearest 10p and to the nearest pound.
Each customer gives you £20, work out the change using integers and decimals.
In your Journal wite the heading - Pop-Up Shop and present your results in a clear table showing:
Items bought
Exact total
Rounded totals
Change given
Conclusion
Today, you’ve been a shop owner, using place value, decimals, rounding, and integer operations to run your business smoothly. You’ve now used all of this week’s skills in a single, real-life scenario.
