Hot and Cold: Activities for Integer Operations

As a teacher, it always surprised me how many of my high school students struggled with integer operations. They could find integers on a number line and use them to label points on a coordinate plane, but they really struggled when it came to adding and subtracting. Many of these students had been taught the rules for these operations, but they lacked the conceptual foundation that would help them use the rules later on.

Incorporating manipulatives into these lessons can help student really understand what is happening when we add or subtract integers. We’ve prepared some hands-on activities that help students understand the role of zero pairs as they physically add or remove cubes. Whether students are using cubes, counters, or tiles, they will have a better understanding of integer operations. You can use these activities for integer operations to introduce the concept of addition or subtraction, or as a useful review for students who need a little help remembering just how integers work. The activities are written to use Unifix® cubes, but you could also use counters, algebra tiles, or other manipulatives if you don’t have any cubes. As always, let us know what you think, and please share any great ideas you may have for teaching integer operations!

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