Place value - Negative Numbers - Presentation

In a comprehensive lesson about negative numbers, students are introduced to the concept with a focus on place value. The lesson begins with a discussion about what negative numbers are, supported by examples to illustrate the concept. Students are encouraged to explore and compare different representations of negative numbers on a number line, with the challenge of identifying similarities and differences among these representations. An intriguing question prompts students to consider whether zero should be included when counting backwards, leading to a deeper understanding of the number sequence and its transition from positive to negative.

Subsequent activities are designed to develop fluency and reasoning with negative numbers. Students are tasked with estimating and labelling points on a number line, including zero and negative values such as -12 and -20. This skill is then applied to real-world scenarios, such as comparing temperatures in different rooms of a zoo, where they use a number line to visualise and calculate the temperature difference between the rainforest and Arctic rooms. The lesson progresses to reasoning exercises where students assess the truth of statements involving negative numbers and order numerical expressions from greatest to smallest. Independent work reinforces these concepts, with tasks that include estimating number line placements and solving word problems, encouraging students to articulate their understanding and apply their knowledge to various contexts.