Negative Numbers - PowerPoint

In an engaging and interactive lesson tailored for Year 5 students, the concept of negative numbers is introduced and explored. The session begins with a focus on placing both positive and negative numbers correctly, helping students to visualise numbers on a number line. Positive numbers are familiar territory for the students, and they are usually represented without a '+' sign. However, the lesson highlights that when numbers extend beyond zero in the opposite direction, they become negative and are indicated with a '-' sign. The concept is further illustrated with the temperature scale, which is commonly seen vertically, where temperatures below freezing point are denoted with negative numbers.

The lesson extends the understanding of negative numbers by using horizontal and vertical scales, prompting students to count forwards and backwards across zero. Different scales are presented, challenging students to determine the value of each division and to identify missing numbers in a sequence. The real-life application of negative numbers is emphasised through temperature changes, where students calculate the new temperature after a rise or drop in degrees, reinforcing the transition between positive and negative values. Additionally, the lesson includes interactive elements where students order numbers from smallest to largest and find differences between pairs using a number line. To consolidate learning, the students can engage in a game that involves adding and subtracting to cover numbers on a game board, fostering a deeper understanding of negative numbers through play.