Absolute Value Lesson Plan: Number and Operations

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Absolute Value, and supports the standard of understanding ordering and absolute value of rational numbers. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display an image of a number line, like this one:

Ask students: 

• What do you notice about this number line?  
• What can you tell about the numbers to the left and right of 0? How are they alike? How are they different?

Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND

• Read aloud the description on the Absolute Value topic page. 
• Play the Movie, activating the Pause Points to check for understanding. 
• Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “In Practice” or “Q&A.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
  

Step 3: ENGAGE

Students express what they learned about absolute value while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.  

• Make-a-Movie: Create a tutorial that answers this question: Why is the zero point important to absolute value? (Essential Literacy Skill: Determine central ideas)
• Make-a-Map: Use a number line to explain the absolute value of -4. (Essential Literacy Skill: Summarize key details)
• Creative Coding: Code a math problem involving absolute value and challenge a classmate to solve it. (Essential Literacy Skill: Acquire and use domain specific words and phrases) 

Step 4: APPLY & ASSESS 

Apply: Students complete the Absolute Value Worksheet, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Assess: Wrap up the lesson with the Absolute Value Quiz. 

Step 5: EXTEND LEARNING

Numbers and Operations Unit: Continue to build understanding around number sense and operations with more BrainPOP topics.

Additional Support Resources:

• Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how BrainPOP Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas.
• Modifications for BrainPOP Learning Activities: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
• BrainPOP Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.