This week in class we looked at integers. We started the
class off with our group activities led by Stefan and Tristan. This week I was
in Stefan’s group where we did a coin battle. This was a great introductory
activity for a grade seven class. The game was interactive and hands on and
laid out so that it was easy to follow along and understand the concepts of
integers. For the activity we had to flip a coin 20 times. Every time you
landed on a tails you added a positive one and every time you landed on a heads
you added a negative one. We had to record each of our trials while
simultaneously recording our process on the number line to visualize the
progression. Once we finished our 20 flips we had to add the integers together,
or look at our number line. Whoever had the highest positive number won the
activity. Britney came out on top with positive 8 where the rest of our table
group came out with positive 4. Overall I found the activity to be very useful
in order to get oneself familiar with the concepts of integers, and especially
negative integers and what they look like considering that for students in
grade 7, this is their first time being exposed to working with these numbers.
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J. K. (2017). Flipping a Coin. [Online Image]. Retrieved
from http://www.psychic-junkie.com/flipping-a-coin-gives-you-the-truth-of-the-matter.html
When we got back to the whole class, we continued to work
with integers. We went over what an integer is, them being numbers, being
positive or negative, them not having decimals and not having fractions. We
then looked at the integer big ideas.
1.
The negative integers are the “opposites” of the
whole numbers.
2.
The zero property, that is, (-1) + (+1)= 0
3.
The meanings for the operations (=,-,x,/) also applies
to all integers.
We saw that integers can be represented on an integer line
where negative integers are valued less than zero, and one always to the left
of zero, and positive integers are valued more than zero and always on the
right of zero.
Tutor Vista. (2017). Number line. {Online Image}. Retrieved
from http://math.tutorvista.com/number-system/number-line.html
We then reviewed the rules for operations of integers for
adding, subtracting, multiplication and division. We were then able to practice
these skills by solving a list of a variety of questions dealing with an array
of integers. Another activity we did was through the method of teaching through
problem solving. This gave students a meaningful way to work with both positive
and negative integers, applying what they know about the concepts to real world
problems. Our first problem was to figure out the minimum temperature rating of
the sleeping bag needed to buy for peaching the peak of Mt. Everest. We used
positive integers when going up in elevation and negative integers when
decreasing in temperature. The second activity asked us how to find the
difference between two elevations, which again, used both positive and negative
integers. This activity allowed for us to use all of the concepts we learned
today in one, by adding the positive and negative integer as well as displaying
it on a number line.
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Until next time. Happy Mathing!
