Mathematics

Intermediate

50 mins

Teacher/Student led

Learning Goals

Learning Outcomes

Lesson Files

+80 XP

Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.

What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Negative Numbers in Context and on the Number Line

Learn to read negative numbers in real contexts like temperature and lift floors, place them on a number line, and find the change between values that cross zero.

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1 Getting Started
2 Watch and Notice
3 Try It Together
4 Sketch the Line in Your Copy
5 Class Challenge
6 What Did We Notice?
7 What's Next
Pupil practice

Your turn

Your teacher is running this lesson on the board. Here is the part you can try yourself.

Your written work is on page 10

Number line

1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

Illustration for Getting Started Look at this thermometer. It is reading −4 °C. What does the minus sign in front of the 4 tell us about how cold it is outside?

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+5 XP

2 - Watch and Notice ~10 mins

The interactive shows three number lines from −10 to +10, each with markers to read. Look at how far each marker sits from zero. For the lift and the temperature, ask yourself: does this change cross zero or stay on one side?

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

3 - Try It Together ~9 mins

Key point

Before each number is placed, show your prediction with your thumb: thumb pointing left if the number belongs on the left of zero, thumb pointing right if it belongs on the right.

You will place four markers on the −10 to +10 line, one at a time, in the order the interactive gives them. One pupil places each marker, and the class checks it together before the next one goes on.

Place the markers on the line

+15 XP

4 - Sketch the Line in Your Copy ~3 mins

COPYBOOK MOMENT

A number line drawn in a maths copy from −10 to +10, with an arrow at each end, a mark for every whole number and 0 in the middle. Only −10, 0 and +10 are named. In your maths copy, sketch a number line from −10 to +10 and mark every whole number. Then place each of the lesson's markers on it and label each one with its value:

−8
−3
+2
−5
+6

+10 XP

Pupil practice

Module 1 · Place Value, Decimals and the Number System Number

Lesson 10 · Negative Numbers in Context and on the Number Line

Download Activity Book page (PDF)

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