Positive and Negative Numbers in the Real World

How well do your students understand positive and negative numbers in relation to real-world quantities? Your students may know that a positive number is located to the right of 0 on a number line, and negative numbers are to the left. However, your student needs to recognise how these are used in situations such as temperatures, elevations, bank amounts, etc. Students also need to be able to explain the meaning of 0 in these situations.

Teach Starter has created a worksheet where students will read a variety of scenarios, determine integers that are used, and identify what 0 represents for the situation.

An answer key is included with your download to make marking fast and easy!

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

In addition to independent student work time, use this worksheet as an activity for:

• guided maths groups
• lesson wrap-up
• fast finishers 
• homework assignment
• whole-class review (via smartboard).

For students who need an additional challenge, encourage them to think of additional situations where a negative and positive number may be used, noting what 0 means in each situation.

If there are students who would benefit from extra support, encourage students to draw pictures for each scenario to help with understanding. 

🖨️ Easily Download & Print

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or editable PowerPoint or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity by printing on card and slipping it into a dry-erase sleeve. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker and then erase and reuse them. 

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks. 

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This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a Teach Starter Collaborator.