Positive and Negative Numbers:
Addition

This lesson teaches students how to add positive and negative numbers and how to compare quantities after they are added together. Includes printable teaching lesson worksheet.

Objectives:

• Students will understand that the addition of positive and negative numbers is about losses and gains.

• Students will add two or more quantities together.

• Students will add quantities and then compare those quantities using less than, greater than and equal to.

Suggested Grades:

Fifth Grade - Sixth Grade - Seventh Grade - Eighth Grade - Including Special Education

Lesson Procedure:

Print the classroom lesson plan and worksheet questions (see below).

Lesson Excerpt:

Brief Review of Positive and Negative Numbers

"Let's take a moment to review positive and negative numbers. Can someone give me an example of a positive number?"

Write student answer on the board.
On Board: A positive number represents a quantity that you have. If I write the number 5 on the board, it means that I have 5 of something. I might have earned $5.00, or had a gain of 5 yards- as if football. A positive number is definitely referring to something that you have.

Can someone give me an example of a negative number?
Write student answer on the board.
So, a negative number refers to a loss of some kind. If I put -10 on the board, I mean that I have had a loss of 10. It could be $10.00, as in I spent $10.00 or if I got two answers wrong on a test and each question was worth 5 points then I would have a loss of 10.

Ask students if there are any questions. If not, move on to adding positive and negative numbers. If there are questions, be sure that students are clear before moving on.

Adding Positive and Negative Numbers

Now let's look at adding positive and negative numbers together.