Virginia SOL 6.NS.2.b

Math6th GradeNumber and Number Sense

The Standard

Compare and order integers using a number line.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will reason and use multiple strategies to represent, compare, and order integers.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students locate positive integers, negative integers, and zero on a number line. They use position to decide which values are greater or less and arrange several values in order.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students accurately place integers on a number line with equal intervals. They order several integers and explain that numbers farther right are greater.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the number with the larger absolute value is always greater, so they choose −8 over −3. They may also reverse the order of negative numbers or place them incorrectly around zero.
How to Assess It: Give students −6, 4, 0, −2, and 7. Ask them to plot the numbers, list them from least to greatest, and explain one comparison.

Lesson moves

Create a floor number line with tape, then have students stand at assigned integers and arrange themselves from least to greatest.
Ask students to explain why −4 is greater than −9 using position on a number line rather than a rule.
Play integer card sort, where pairs race to place number cards in order and check their work with a number line.
Compare temperatures from several cities, then plot and rank them from coldest to warmest on a number line.

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