6th Grade Decimal Word Problems – Guided Notes & Practice

This 6th grade guided notes resource is designed to help students approach decimal word problems with confidence instead of overwhelm. Word problems is typically where things fall apart-not because students can't do the math, but because they don't know which operation to choose, or how to represent a real-world problem with numbers. This lesson aims to break down that barrier by teaching clear strategies to use, and modeling the thought process one step at a time.

It is no prep, print and teach, making it the perfect activity for a high-standards, low-energy day!

What's Included

This lesson follows a gradual release model that supports all learners:2 pages of Guided Notes

Student-friendly breakdowns and worked examples model exactly how to break down decimal word problems and select the correct operation.

Guided Practice (10 problems)Structured practice helps students utilize strategies with support before working independently.

Independent Practice (20 problems)A mix of one-step and multi-step decimal word problems grounded in real-world contexts like money, distance, time, and measurement.

Complete Answer Key

Ideal for fast grading, small groups, or student self-checking!

Pro Tips for Common Mistakes

Address frequent trouble spots such as selecting the wrong operation, ignoring units, or misplacing decimals!

Skills Covered

Students will learn to:

Solve one-step and multi-step decimal word problems

Apply decimal addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Interpret real-world situations involving money, distance, time, and measurement

Check answers for reasonableness to build math sense

CCSS Aligned: 6.NS.B.3

The focus is on understanding the problem first-so students aren't just guessing which operation "looks right."

Why Teachers Love This Resource

No Prep | Print & Go

Clean, consistent layout that supports struggling learners

Ideal for guided instruction, whole-class lessons, or small groups

Works beautfully in interactive notebooks

Flexible for classwork, homework, intervention, or review

Whether you're introducing decimal word problems, reinforcing skills, or preparing students for assessments, this guided notes lesson gives you a clear, structured way to teach problem-solving-and helps students feel more confident every step of the way.