Adding and Subtracting Integers Lesson Plan: Number and Operations

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Adding and Subtracting Integers, and supports the standard of fluently adding and subtracting positive and negative integers. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display an image of a number line, like the one shown below:

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 do they compare?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

• Read aloud the description on the Adding and Subtracting Integers topic page. 
• Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Adding and Subtracting Integers Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about adding and subtracting integers 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: How do you use a number line to add and subtract integers?
• Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying and explaining the rules for adding and subtracting integers, and the relationship between adding positive and negative numbers. Use examples. 
• Creative Coding: Code a math problem that involves adding or subtracting integers. 

More to Explore

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

Teacher Support Resources:

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