Percentages & Discounts | Real-World Maths Activities | Year 6 | PDF

This engaging, step-by-step lesson and worksheet pack is designed to help Year 6 students understand percentages and calculating discounts through real-world applications. Perfect for introducing or reinforcing key concepts, this resource makes learning percentages meaningful by connecting it to everyday situations—like shopping and finding a bargain!

🎯 Lesson Goals:

• ✅ Understand what a percentage represents using visual models
• ✅ Convert percentages to fractions and identify equivalent fractions
• ✅ Make connections between percentages, decimals, and fractions
• ✅ Apply percentage calculations to real-life shopping scenarios

📘 What’s Included:

• ✔️ Structured Lesson Plan – Clear instructions and progression across 4 activities
• ✔️ Student Worksheets – Visual models, calculation tasks, and application activities
• ✔️ Answer Keys – For teacher guidance and quick checking
• ✔️ Extension Activities – Use of calculators and decimal conversions
• ✔️ Real-Life Application Task – "Grab a Bargain" activity using store catalogs or included printable items
• ✔️ Hands-on Learning – Use of counters, cutting and pasting, and problem-solving

🧠 Activity Overview:

Activity 1: Visualising 50%

• Use a model to show what 50% looks like
• Discuss equivalent fractions (e.g. 1/2, 2/4, 5/10, 50/100)
• Introduce decimal equivalence (0.5)

Activity 2: Working with Percent Models

• Students complete a worksheet using different percentages
• Use calculators to explore fraction-to-decimal relationships (e.g. 1 ÷ 4 = 0.25)

Activity 3: Counter Challenge

• Use 20 counters to explore 10%, 20%, etc.
• Follow up with a worksheet to solidify understanding

Activity 4: Grab a Bargain – Real-World Maths

• Using store brochures (or included printable items), students calculate pre-discount prices, discounts, and savings
• Great for developing financial literacy and problem-solving

🧮 Curriculum Links:

Australian Curriculum – Year 6

📘 ACMNA132: Investigate and calculate percentage discounts of 10%, 25%, and 50% on sale items, with and without digital technologies

Common Core – Grade 6 (U.S.)

📘 CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3.C: Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100

📎 Resource Details:

• Year Level: Year 6 (Ages 11–12)
• Format: Printable PDF
• Pages: 10
• Use for: Whole-class instruction, small groups, independent work, homework, or assessment preparation

Make percentages relevant and fun by bringing the shopping experience into your classroom! This resource builds number fluency, problem-solving skills, and financial literacy—perfect for real-world maths connections.