Year 4

We can read, write and put in order positive and negative numbers.

We can use the < and > signs with positive and negative numbers.

Year 4 Unit 14

What we are learning:

• A number line is a simple diagram (quick to draw – no need for scaling accuracy). It consists of a straight line (normally drawn horizontally, but in the context of temperature can be drawn vertically). Key numbers should be added onto it.
• A positive number is a number GREATER than zero.
• A negative number is a number LESS than zero.
• 4˃1 tells us that 4 is greater than 1
• 1˂4 tells us that 1 is less than 4
• The number -5 should be read as ‘negative 5’ (be careful of saying ‘minus 5 as this might be confused with subtraction)

Using a number line will help your child to see that the bigger the number following a –ve sign, the further that value is away from zero

ACTIVITY 1: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE NUMBERS, FINDING THE DIFFERENCE

ACTIVITY 2: POSITIVELY FUN GAME

ACTIVITY SHEETS

Downloads:

Activity sheet: Positively Fun PDF

ACTIVITY 3: POSITIVELY FUN, CHILDREN PLAYING

Activities you can do at home:

Draw a horizontal line on a piece of paper. Write 0 just above the line
(roughly in the middle of the line). Now write 10 just above the line at the right-hand end of the line and -10 just above the line at the left-hand end of the line.

-10                 0                     10

Work together to add the following values onto your number line: 3, 7, 5, -1, -3, -5, -9

Draw a vertical line on a piece of paper. Write 0 next to the line (roughly in the middle of the line). Now write 10 next to the line at the ‘top’ of the line and -10 next to the line at ‘bottom’ of the line. Work together to add the following values onto your number line: 3, 7, 5, -1, -3, -5, -9
Compare the vertical number line with a horizontal number line.

Use the positive and negative digit cards (sheet “Positively fun!” with the inequalities cards, to make up number sentences. Use the number line you have drawn to check you are accurate, then read each number sentence aloud.

Good questions to ask and discuss:

Which is the biggest number, +7 or -7? How do you know?
Which is the biggest number, +1 or -100? How do you know?
Which number is 1 bigger than -5?
Which number is 1 smaller than -9?

If your child:

Gets the greater than and less than signs confused.
Look carefully at them together. The bigger, open end of the sign always points towards the larger number. The smaller, pointed end of the sign always points towards the smaller number.
Finds negative numbers difficult to understand.
Use a visual prompt like a number line to explore the fact that numbers can go below zero and that we can count from negative to positive numbers and vice versa. ​