Tenths, Hundredths and Decimal Grids
Decimal Lanterns
Light a garden lantern by filling its hundred grid to match a fraction or decimal. Add a strip worth 1/10 or a pane worth 1/100 and watch the model and decimal change together. Complete eight lanterns, then play again with fresh targets.
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How to play Decimal Lanterns
- 1
Read Target
The first lantern is ready immediately. Read the fraction or decimal beside Target and remember that the complete grid is one whole.
- 2
Add a strip
Use Add a strip to light ten panes at once. Its label shows 1/10 = 0.10. For 3/10, three strips complete the lantern.
- 3
Add a pane
Use Add a pane for each remaining hundredth. For 47/100, four strips and seven panes fill the right area. The fraction and decimal update on every move.
- 4
Undo or Clear
Undo reverses the last addition; Clear empties the lantern. If you go past the target, remove panes and try again. The round remains available, but its streak bonus is lost.
- 5
Next lantern and Play again
A correct model lights automatically. Read the completed equation and select Next lantern. After eight lanterns, Play again begins a fresh run. Use Mute or Sound on to change the music. Tab and Enter or Space work on all buttons.
Key Features
Build with two sizes
Add a strip places ten illuminated panes. Add a pane places one. Both actions visibly fill the lantern from the top left.
Three target notations
Rounds cycle through fractions over ten, fractions over one hundred and decimals, including small hundredths and one whole.
Automatic lighting
Matching the target lights the lantern, reveals the equivalence equation and enables Next lantern. No answer typing or separate checking is needed.
Score, Streak and Best
Each lantern earns 100 points plus 10 per consecutive clean completion, capped at 50 bonus points. Filling past a target resets the streak and removes that round's bonus. Best and the sound preference are saved in this browser.
Fresh eight-lantern runs
Targets are drawn from shuffled pools without repeating until a pool refills. Play again resets the run and draws fresh targets. Touch, mouse and keyboard activate the same controls.
What is Decimal Lanterns?
Decimal Lanterns is a garden building game about parts of one whole. The lantern has 100 equal panes. A strip lights ten panes, so it represents 1/10 = 10/100 = 0.10. A single pane represents 1/100 = 0.01. The target alternates between tenths, hundredths and decimal notation. For a target of 47/100, add four strips and seven panes. The live model reads 47/100 = 0.47. For 3/10, three strips light 30 panes, and the completed equation reads 3/10 = 30/100 = 0.30 = 0.3. The lantern lights automatically when the filled area matches the target.
Why play Decimal Lanterns?
- 1
See one whole
The fixed hundred grid keeps the whole the same size while strips and single panes change the shaded part.
- 2
Connect fractions and decimals
The model shows a fraction over 100 alongside its decimal after every move.
- 3
Recognize equivalent tenths
Completed multiples of ten show the matching fraction over ten and the equivalent one-place decimal.
- 4
Practice without a countdown
Undo and Clear allow correction without losing a life. There is no timer, so learners can count and compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does one pane represent?
One of the hundred equal panes is 1/100 of the lantern, or 0.01. Ten panes make a strip worth 10/100 = 1/10 = 0.10.
Why are 0.3 and 0.30 both shown?
They name the same amount: three tenths and thirty hundredths. The extra zero shows hundredths without changing the value. Completed multiples of ten display both forms.
Can I correct an overfilled lantern?
Yes. Undo reverses the last addition and Clear empties the grid. Going past the target resets Streak and removes that round's bonus, but you can still finish it for 100 points.
How long is a game?
A run contains eight lanterns with no countdown or lives. You choose when to advance after each match. Play again resets Score and Streak while retaining Best.
Are the targets always the same?
No. Shuffled pools supply tenths, hundredths and decimal targets. A pool avoids repeats until it is exhausted, and replay continues drawing fresh challenges.
Can I play on an iPad or with a keyboard?
Yes. Large buttons support touch and mouse. Keyboard players can Tab to each control and press Enter or Space. There are no typed answers or sliders. Music starts after an interaction and can be muted.
