Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes
Negative numbers and absolute value
Number sense
CCSS 6.NS.C.5CCSS 6.NS.C.6CCSS 6.NS.C.7England: Y5 Number and place valueEngland: Y6 NumberEngland: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Negative numbers and absolute value.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Compare three-digit numbers
Leads to: Add and subtract integers; Coordinates in all four quadrants; Inequalities: meaning and solutions
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Compare three-digit numbers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the sign: 436 __ 634 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Compare the hundreds first, then the tens, then the ones.
- Choose the sign: 133 __ 126 (< / > / =) → >Prompt: Compare the hundreds first, then the tens, then the ones.
- Choose the sign: 604 __ 504 (< / > / =) → >Prompt: Compare the hundreds first, then the tens, then the ones.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Negative numbers and absolute value. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: The temperature is −3 °C at noon and −14 °C at night. By how many degrees did it fall?
- Step 1: −3 − (−14) = 11
- Answer: 11
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- The temperature is 4 °C at noon and −11 °C at night. By how many degrees did it fall? → 15Prompt: Find the distance between the two numbers on the number line.
- What is |−28|, the absolute value of −28? → 28Prompt: Absolute value is the distance from 0.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What is |−7|, the absolute value of −7? → 7Prompt: Absolute value is the distance from 0.
- The temperature is 6 °C at noon and −9 °C at night. By how many degrees did it fall? → 15Prompt: Find the distance between the two numbers on the number line.
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Compare three-digit numbers.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Add and subtract integers; Coordinates in all four quadrants; Inequalities: meaning and solutions.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder