Snapshot: 6C Subtracting Integers

Negative number - Positive Number

The students in 6C are grappling with how to subtract integers. This is a challenging lesson for sixth graders because it requires a depth of understanding of what it means to subtract and how negative numbers can impact that concept. 

Class was divided into groups to work on understanding a specific subset of integer subtraction problems. They were given manipulative ands and two different tools to help them work through what is happening in each subset of problems. They were asked to summarize their work on a poster and then required to "teach" the rest of the class how to think about their type of problem. Everyone had to be versed in their type of problem and able to communicate their understanding of the material. 

I like this activity because it requires the students to make sense of something they have not been taught formally. They have to struggle to put together information they already know and apply it in a new way. I like to challenge their thinking and make sure they are able to see when conclusions they make are logical and when they make sense only because they want it to make sense. I enjoy hearing students work to explain their thinking to their peers. Listening to students find ways to make sense of the material in different ways because the way they are explaining it is not making sense to their classmate. I love it when students challenge each other's thinking in respectful ways. All of the dialogue and communication is priceless. More learning happened in one period than most of a normal week!

This is just the beginning of their journey with subtracting integers. They walk away from these presentations with a sense of accomplishment. The next step is to see if they can apply what they have learned when the problems are not so nicely grouped together and isolated. What happens when they encounter the problems in the "wild" or mixed up with other problems? That is the first real test of their understand. 

Positive number - Positive number

Negative number - Negative Number

Positive number - Negative number

Special Cases

Snapshot: 6C Coordinate Planes

In sixth grade, we have entered the world of integers!  We have doubled out numerical world by adding all of the negative integers to our known world of positive numbers. We discussed and explored the reason we need negative number and how we use them in our everyday lives. We reviewed how a four quadrant coordinate plane worked. The class enjoyed assignments where they had to plot points to reveal an image.  We took that one step further and the class was asked to create a coordinate plane assignment for a peer to complete. They will give each other feedback on the clarity and success of their assignment. Here are the images that the students created. 

Snapshot: 6 Subtracting Integers

Sixth graders were tasked with figuring out how to subtract integers. Each group of students were given a type of subtraction problem and they were required to figure out how to teach the rest of the class how to solve that. They were required to find at least two ways to solve the type of subtraction problems. The posters were shared and displayed in class. It was great to see the creative ways the students were able to apply what they already know about integers to make sense of subtracting integers.