Integers: How We Use Them in The Real World

    An integer can be any natural number positive or negative. As we know, we are surrounded by integers every day in the real world. Learning how to work with negative and positive integers will benefit students in everyday experiences, such as, reading a thermometer in below-zero weather, loss of football yards, along with assets and debts relating to one’s finances.

          

When introducing younger students to integers, it is essential to use visual manipulative's to represent positive and negative integers. A common manipulative used in math classrooms are colored counters. Teachers can use a black or yellow counter to signify positive, and a red for negative. Students will then be able to visualize the process of adding and subtracting integers. An example of using colored counters is shown below to represent the integer, -3.

Number-lines are another visual tool that should be used when teaching younger students, the concept of adding and subtracting integers. Number-line representations allow students to visualize how negative and positive numbers are ordered on a number-line, which will be useful when reading thermometers, and adding and subtracting negative and positive integers.

One especially useful concept is Mail-Time Representations. This represents integers in real-life situations, for example, when students are interested in determining a loss, or gain in football yards, or determining overall net worth. An example of a mail-time representation question is shown below:

Q: At mail-time, you are delivered a bill for $50. What happens to your net worth?

A: It goes down $50.

Q: At mail-time, you receive a check for $100, and are delivered a bill for $40. What happened to your net worth?

A: It goes down to $60.

These mail-time representations can include hand writing out checks and bills for the students to visualize, which will make learning this essential concept more engaging and memorable for students in the classroom.

The internet has an overwhelming number of resources that can be used to engage students while learning this concept. Technology is a great way to connect students to the concept through something their familiar with. I have found some that are particularly appropriate for the primary grades.

http://www.mathgoodies.com/games/integer_game/

This game offers students an opportunity to practice with gains and losses in football.

http://www.mathnook.com/math/skill/integergames.php

Adding, subtracting, multiplying integers. Multiple games including aliens, bike racing, digit drop, and brain racer.

http://www.math-play.com/integer-games.html

Games for reviewing positive and negative numbers.