Real-Life Integers: Working with Integers & Number Lines Grade 6 Math

Integers are everywhere in our lives! Get your students excited about learning about integers including using number lines and finding the difference between integers in a variety of real-life situations. This is perfect for students in grade six who are first learning about rational numbers.

Social Media: Up Votes and Down Votes:

You will read each statement one at a time to your class. Then ask for upvotes (and count the hands) and ask for downvotes (and count the hands). Remind students they can abstain from voting on a statement if they are ambivalent. If you think it will help your class, have students vote anonymously by putting their heads down. Record the upvotes and downvotes for each of the 10 statements. Students complete the math (which is really adding integers) to get each statement’s final score.

(Extension: This activity can lead to a mini-lesson on facts vs. opinions.)

Cities: Temperatures and Elevations:

Students will need internet access for this activity. They will explore two cities: one with a positive temperature in degrees Celsius and one with a negative temperature in degrees Celsius. Using a number line, they will compare these two temperatures. Then, they must find the elevation (in meters) of six cities around the world to complete three math questions.

Sports: Golf and Football:

Students will apply adding and subtracting integers to a golf game to calculate the player’s score above or below par. Then, they use integers to calculate if a football team scores a touchdown.

(Extension: Students can create their own football scenario. They can choose a starting point, make up 5 plays, and trade with a friend. )

Financial Literacy: Bank Account:

Students add and subtract integers to keep a running bank balance in an account with an overdraft. They see how purchases reduce your balance and deposits increase your balance. I have included two versions, one with decimals and one with whole numbers only.