Examples of what pupils should know and be able to do
Pupils should be able to order a set of positive and negative integers on a number line and on a temperature scale.
Probing questions
What do you look for first when you are asked to order a set of positive and negative integers?
Which part of each number do you look at to help you?
Which is larger, −4 or 2?
Give me a number that is between these two integers, e.g. −10 and 3?
Which of the two integers is it closer to?
Give me two temperatures between 0° C and -10° C. Which is the lower? How can you tell?
What if pupils find this a barrier?
The number line is an important visual image.
Extend from the thermometer to use and display a vertical number line.
Count on and back using a counting stick (holding horizontally and vertically).
A common misconception is to think that −8 is greater than −2.
Pupils often ignore the negative sign when ordering negative numbers.
- Thermometer ITP - Zip file (463Kb)
- Number line ITP - Zip file (459Kb)
- TL4Y7 Number 1N1.1 - Acrobat pdf document (69Kb)
<< Previous Step | Next Step >>