- View more resources from this publisher
Teachers TV
Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Negative Numbers 1
This resource from Teachers TV features Josie Clark, a teacher at Niton Primary School on the Isle of Wight, as she introduces negative numbers to a class of Year Four students. Josie explains how she previously taught negative numbers using thermometers, but found that while students grasped the concept that numbers went backwards from zero they thought this only applied to temperature.
Josie then demonstrates how she uses very specific language to explain to her students the difference between one and negative one. Meanwhile Richard Dunne, mathematics consultant, explains that the language used is of the utmost importance, as it allows students to gain access to the symbolism of mathematics.
Students practise new words such as 'negative' and 'subtract', they demonstrate their understanding by moving cards, which helps them to visualise the actions of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing negative numbers.
Josie explains that the technique being used has had a positive effect on the attainment, behaviour and engagement of students in lessons.
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.
