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Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

Describe real situations with positive and negative numbers

Number sense

CCSS 6.NS.C.5England: KS3 Number

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Describe real situations with positive and negative numbers.

  • 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: Opposite numbers and zero

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Opposite numbers and zero). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Simplify −(−(−(−21))). → 21Prompt: −(…) means “the opposite of”.
  2. Simplify −(−19). → 19Prompt: −(…) means “the opposite of”.
  3. Simplify −(−(−(−15))). → 15Prompt: −(…) means “the opposite of”.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
  • Share the objective: Describe real situations with positive and negative numbers. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Write an integer for this: a team loses 188 points.
  • Step 1: It is negative: −188.
  • Answer: -188
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Write an integer for this: a lift goes down 78 floors. → -78Prompt: Decide whether this is a gain/up/above (positive) or a loss/down/below (negative).
  2. If +71 means 71 m above sea level, what does −71 mean? (sea level / 142 m below sea level / 71 m above sea level / 71 m below sea level) → 71 m below sea levelPrompt: A negative number describes the opposite direction or change.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. We use integers for temperature in °C. What does 0 stand for? (the freezing point of water / no money in the account and no money owed / the ground floor / sea level) → the freezing point of waterPrompt: Zero is the reference point: not above and not below.
  2. Write an integer for this: a team loses 116 points. → -116Prompt: Decide whether this is a gain/up/above (positive) or a loss/down/below (negative).

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: Opposite numbers and zero.
  • 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

  • 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

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Describe real situations with positive and negative numbers

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    If +38 means gaining 38 followers, what does −38 mean?

    • A. gaining 38 followers
    • B. no change in followers
    • C. gaining 76 followers
    • D. losing 38 followers

  2. Question 2

    We use integers for bank balance. What does 0 stand for?

    • A. no money in the account and no money owed
    • B. the freezing point of water
    • C. the ground floor
    • D. sea level

  3. Question 3

    Write an integer for this: 22 dollars is paid into a savings account.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    If +73 means paying $73 into a savings account, what does −73 mean?

    • A. taking $73 out of the account
    • B. paying $146 into the account
    • C. paying $73 into the account
    • D. an empty account

  5. Question 5

    We use integers for height above or below sea level. What does 0 stand for?

    • A. the ground floor
    • B. no money in the account and no money owed
    • C. sea level
    • D. the freezing point of water

  6. Question 6

    Write an integer for this: a submarine is 29 m below sea level.

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    If +39 means paying $39 into a savings account, what does −39 mean?

    • A. taking $39 out of the account
    • B. an empty account
    • C. paying $78 into the account
    • D. paying $39 into the account

  8. Question 8

    We use integers for temperature in °C. What does 0 stand for?

    • A. the freezing point of water
    • B. the ground floor
    • C. no money in the account and no money owed
    • D. sea level

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Answer key: Describe real situations with positive and negative numbers

  1. 1. D. losing 38 followers

  2. 2. A. no money in the account and no money owed

  3. 3. 22

  4. 4. A. taking $73 out of the account

  5. 5. C. sea level

  6. 6. -29

  7. 7. A. taking $39 out of the account

  8. 8. A. the freezing point of water