CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3
The Standard
Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics · Number and Operations in Base Ten
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect decimals through thousandths to word names and expanded expressions. They compare two decimals by checking each place from left to right and using <, >, or =.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can show 4.307 as a numeral, a word name, and an expanded expression. The student can order several decimals and explain each comparison using place values.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the decimal with more digits is always greater, so 0.378 is greater than 0.45. They may confuse tenths, hundredths, and thousandths or think trailing zeros change a number's value.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Write 6.204 in words and expanded form, then compare 6.204 and 6.24 using <, >, or = and explain why.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students place value mats and digit cards to build decimals, then record each number in numeral, word, and expanded forms.
Ask, “Which is greater, 0.5 or 0.05?” and have students justify their answer using place value language.
Play Decimal War with number cards, where partners build decimals to thousandths and score a point for the greater number.
Compare three race times measured to thousandths of a second, then discuss why the smallest time represents the fastest performance.
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Printable 5.NBT.A.3 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Number & Operations in Base Ten progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
- CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.6
Understanding tenths and hundredths decimal notation is necessary before reading, writing, and comparing decimals extended to thousandths.
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.1
Decimal reading, writing, and comparison rely on knowing each place is ten times the next and one tenth of the previous.
- CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.7
Comparing hundredths using place value and same-whole reasoning extends directly to reading, writing, and comparing thousandths.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.4
Rounding decimals requires knowing decimal place names, digit values, and which neighboring place-value benchmark the number is closer to.
- CCSS.Math.Content.7.NS.A.2d
Decimal place value and notation to thousandths support interpreting quotients as terminating or repeating decimals.
- CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.C.5
Comparing decimals between 0 and 1 helps students order probability values and connect larger numbers with greater likelihood.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3b
Compare two decimals to thousandths based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
- CCSS.Math.Content.2.NBT.A.3
Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form.
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3a
Read and write decimals to thousandths using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form, e.g., 347.392 = 3 × 100 + 4 × 10 + 7 × 1 + 3 × (1/10) + 9 × (1/...
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