Understanding Integers ~ Lesson 2
Comparing and Ordering
Integers
Students will understand that the farther right a
number is on the number line, the greater the
number is.
Students will compare and order positive and
negative numbers.
Students will choose the correct inequality
symbol to write true mathematical sentences
containing positive and negative numbers.
Teaching Actions:
Materials
Whiteboard
Smartboard or chalkboard
Pre-made number lines
Practice worksheets
•Ordering Integers
•Comparing Integers
•Comparing Negative
Integers
Comments
1. Draw a number line on the board. Put
an x on the numbers 5 and 2 and ask the
students which inequality symbol would be
written to make a true mathematical
sentence (5>2).
You want students to come up with the rule
that the farther right a number is on the
number line, the greater the number is.
Continue making inequality statements with
positive numbers until students are firm with
the rule.
2. Write the numbers 5 and 2 on the
board. On their own number lines have
students slide their left finger to 5 and
keep that finger there while they slide their
right finger to 2. Ask them which inequality
symbol should be written to make a true
mathematical statement about 5 and 2.
Students should write 5  2. Assign more
practice using both positive and negative
numbers.
07-15-10
Assign “Comparing
Integers” worksheet. If
students are at a high level
of accuracy, assign the
“Comparing Negative
Integers” worksheet.
Lesson 2
p. 1
Understanding Integers ~ Lesson 2
Teaching Actions:
3. Draw a number line on the board that ranges
from 15 to 15. Write the following numbers:
7, 10, 9, 7, 8, 3, 5, 3, 11, 1. Have
students place x’s on the number line where
each integer goes.
Ask students: “How can you use the number line
to put the integers in order from least to
greatest?”
Comments
These numbers are from the
first set on the Ordering
Integers worksheet.
Students may want to sort
numbers first by negative
and positive.
Once students understand that you write the
numbers starting from the left and move to the
right, pass out the “Ordering Integers”
worksheet. They should place the “x’s” on the
number line and then rewrite the numbers in
order.
Ask students: “When is it important to write
numbers in order from least to greatest?”
One example is when finding the
median in a set of data.
Additional free worksheets
and answer keys are
available online at:
math-drills.com
07-15-10
Lesson 2
p. 2