Introducing Integers
Integers: Changes in Temperature ModelThe mathematical introduction of integers as positive and negative numbers on the number line is easily accomplished through the real-life application of weather changes in temperature. We are all accustomed to hearing how the temperature will be up or down over the course of the week. Given Monday's temperature, and a series of up and down daily changes, students are challenged to find Friday's temperature. Teachers might use the 5-day weather forecast for your area on Monday. Give students Monday's temperature, then tell them how the temperature will change each day, going up or down from the previous day. Challenge students to find the predicted temperature on Friday, then check it against Friday's actual temperature as part of daily routines. |
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Thermometer: Changes in Temperature TemplateStudents use this template to record data to solve changes in temperature problems. Using the 5-day forecast, the teacher tells students Monday's temperature and the change (+ or -) for each day of the week. Students use this information to figure out the actual temperature for each day of the week. Note that the change should reflect the change from the previous day. For example, a change of -3 for Wednesday means that the temperature went down 3 degrees from Tuesday's temperature. Additionally, if the teacher uses the actual changes in the 5-day forecast for the area, the students can also assess the accuracy of a 5-day forecast as the week's weather plays out. The thermometer strip is available as a visual representation for students to use in solving the changes in temperature problems. Students write Monday's temperature in the START space. They may then simply count up or down spaces to get to the next day's temperature. The template was designed so that students could use a clothespin to mark the daily change for ease in recording. The clothespin simply clips onto the appropriate space as a placeholder while students write in the temperature and record the information in the weekly chart. Download the |
Assessment: Good WeatherThe Good Weather problem is a formal assessment of students' proficiency in using integers to describe the changes in temperature and predict the Friday temperature. It is simple to adjust this problem to reflect the current temperatures in any area, depending on the season. Download the |
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Read More on the Mathwire Blog...Introducing Integers: Good Weather discusses the Good Weather assessment. Changes in Temperature Template discusses the use of the Mathwire template as it is used in introducing this integer model. |