Adding and Subtracting Integers: From Number Lines to Algebraic Thinking
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Students will add and subtract integers, including applying the rule that subtracting an integer is equivalent to adding its opposite, and will evaluate multi-step integer expressions in real-world contexts.
Lesson Overview
Students progress from concrete number-line reasoning to abstract integer addition and subtraction, discovering that subtracting is equivalent to adding the opposite. Tasks increase complexity by changing one variable at a time — from positive addends, to negative addends, to subtraction, to multi-step expressions.
Materials
- Vertical whiteboards or chart paper
- Dry-erase markers (multiple colors)
- Pencils and paper
Scaffolded Task Progression
a) ?b) ? [ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
a) ?b) ? [ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
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