Maryland Math 5.NOS.A.3.b
The Standard
- 5.NOS.A.3
- Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths.
Estimate decimal quantities by reasoning about their location on a number line, their relationship to benchmark numbers (e.g. 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) and rounding to any place.
Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics (2025) · UNDERSTAND THE PLACE VALUE SYSTEM.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students place decimals on number lines and compare them with nearby benchmarks, such as 0.5 and 0.75. They use those positions to estimate values and round to a named place.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student places 0.684 between 0.5 and 0.75, closer to 0.75. They round it to 0.7 to the nearest tenth and 0.68 to the nearest hundredth, and explain why.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think 0.68 is greater than 0.7 because 68 is greater than 7. They may round 0.684 to 0.6 to the nearest tenth because they ignore the 8 in the hundredths place.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Mark 0.463 on a 0 to 1 number line with quarter marks. Name the closest quarter benchmark, then round 0.463 to the nearest tenth and hundredth.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Lay masking tape from 0 to 1, label the quarter marks, and have students place 0.68 and defend its spot.
Ask, 'Is 0.68 closer to 0.5 or 0.75?' Have students show the distances and explain their choice in writing.
Play rounding bingo: call out 0.684 and 'nearest hundredth,' then have students cover 0.68 on their cards.
Show grocery prices of $3.68 and $2.24, and have students round each to the nearest dollar to estimate the total.
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Printable 5.NOS.A.3.b Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 4.NOS.A.1.b
Estimate quantities by reasoning about their location on a number line, their relationship to benchmark numbers, and rounding to any place.
- 2.NOS.A.5
Estimate quantities by reasoning about their location on a number line, their relationship to benchmark numbers (e.g. 10, 50, 100), and to assess reasonableness...
- 6.NOS.C.6.a
Estimate quantities by reasoning about their location on a number line, their relationship to benchmark numbers, and by rounding.
- 3.NOS.A.1.c
Estimate quantities by reasoning about their location on a number line, their relationship to benchmark numbers, and rounding to nearest 10 or 100.
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