While the standards don't call for negative numbers to be taught before the sixth grade, many students benefit from learning the concept earlier. A video explains what teachers mean by the opposite of a number. It includes absolute value, adding a negative number, and subtracting a negative number.

Concepts

opposite numbers, number lines, multiplication negative numbers, negative numbers, absolute value, subtraction negative numbers

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Create practice problems for pupils to complete independently
• Provide number lines for each person to use while solving

Classroom Considerations

• Requires prior knowledge of addition, subtraction, and how to use a number line with negative numbers

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Uses multiple colors to show each step in solving a problem
• Pacing is set appropriately for the grade level

Cons

• None

Common Core

6.NS.C.5 6.NS.C.6.a 6.NS.C.7.c 7.NS.A.1.b 7.NS.A.1.c