Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Create story problems involving decimal operations.
• Solve story problems with decimals accurately.
• Explain the steps taken to solve decimal problems.
• Identify real-life situations for decimal operations.

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on applying our knowledge of decimal operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) to real-world situations. In our daily lives in Ghana, we encounter decimals constantly—when we buy items at the shop and deal with Cedis and pesewas (e.g., GH₵12.50), when we measure fabric for sewing, or when we check the price of fuel per litre. This lesson will equip learners with the skills to confidently understand, solve, and even create their own mathematical stories (word problems) involving these decimal numbers. Moving beyond simple calculation to solving story problems is a key step in becoming a powerful mathematical thinker.

Lesson notes

The main challenge in story problems is translating words into a mathematical equation. We will use a simple strategy to break down any problem. Strategy: The "C.U.P.S." Method

To solve any story problem, we can follow these four steps: C - Circle: Circle all the numbers (decimals and whole numbers) in the problem. U - Underline: Underline the question being asked. This helps you focus on what you need to find. P - Pick the Operation: Look for keywords that suggest which operation to use (+, −, ×, ÷). Box these keywords. S - Solve and Check: Write down the equation and solve it. Check if your answer makes sense in the context of the story. Identifying Operations with Keywords

| Operation | Keywords / Clues | Example Context | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Addition (+) | Total, sum, altogether, combined, in all, perimeter, increase by | Finding the total cost of two items. Finding the total distance walked. | | Subtraction (−) | Difference, how much more, how much left, remain, decrease by, take away, change | Finding the change after buying something. Finding how much taller one person is. | | Multiplication (×) | Product, of, total for multiple same-priced items, each, per | Finding the total cost of 5 books if each costs GH₵7.50. Finding the area of a rectangle. | | Division (÷) | Share equally, split, average, per, quotient, out of, distributed among | Sharing a bill among friends. Cutting a long rope into equal smaller pieces. |

Worked Examples (Applying the C.U.P.S. Method)

Reference guide

• , subtract to cut pieces, and divide to space things out evenly.
• Health and Nutrition: A nurse might need to administer 2.5 ml of medicine. A dietician calculates the amount of protein in grams (e.g., 20.5 g) in a meal. These decimal calculations are critical for ensuring proper dosage and healthy living.
• Differentiation, Remediation and Extension
• Remediation (For Struggling Learners)
• Provide learners with a "Keyword Chart" that they can keep on their desks to help them choose the correct operation.
• Start with very simple one-step problems using money (e.g., GH₵5.50 + GH₵2.20) as it is a very familiar context.