How to Use "Simon Says" Game to Teach Negative Numbers
Adding and subtracting negative numbers can be a challenging concept for students, especially before they fully understand exactly what negative numbers are. Illustrating the concept on a number line may be enough to help visual learners, but auditory and kinasthetic learners may need a more interactive lesson. Getting your students out of their seats and having them move back and forth on their own number lines keeps them engaged, while students who struggle to understand how negative numbers work can follow their classmates' examples until they master the concept.
Instructions
-
-
1
Divide students into pairs, and give each pair a long role of paper. Have them all draw number lines from 20 to -20 on the papers in marker.
-
2
Push the desks to the sides of the room, and roll the number lines out along the floor, with the number 20 nearest the front of the room and -20 nearest the back of the room. Tell everyone to begin at number 0. Have one student in each pair stand on the right side of the number line and the other on the left, so they are next to each other with the line extending to their front and back.
-
-
3
Play "Simon Says," instructing students to add positive and negative numbers and move those distances on their number lines. For example, start with "Simon says, 'Add 3,'" meaning students should move forward to the number 3; continue with, "Simon says, 'Add negative 2,'" meaning students should move backward to the number 1.
-
4
Incorporate subtraction as students begin to master the concept. For example, say, "Simon says, 'Subtract negative 5,'" meaning students should move five spaces forward on their number lines.
-
5
Raise the level of the game by directing instructions to one student at a time, so they cannot take cues from their classmates.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have enough space in your classroom, give each student his own number line instead of having them share.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
