Positive and Negative Numbers:
Subtraction

Students will learn that subtraction is about taking away -- whether this is regarding positive numbers, negative numbers or both. Students will also practice adding and subtracting when absolute value is involved. Includes printable teaching worksheet.

Objectives:

• Students will practice subtracting positive and negative numbers.

• Students will review absolute value.

• Students will practice adding and subtracting the absolute value of positive and negative numbers.

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:

To begin, " Who can tell me what subtraction is all about?"

Write student responses on the board. You are looking for students to start talking about "taking away." You may also hear the word "minus" which is often used in Elementary curriculum. Help the students to think about subtraction as "taking something away from something else." This will help them when beginning to work with subtracting negative numbers.

Rephrase, and write on the board: Subtraction is about taking something away from something else.

"We already know how to subtract positive numbers. You have been doing that for years, but let's do one just for fun."

Continued...