Integer Subtraction Lesson Plan 1

Teachers: Jagar Carrillo

Subject: Mathematics/Grade 7

Standard:
The Number System
Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply,
and divide rational numbers.

7.NS.A.1. Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and
subtract rational numbers; represent addition and subtraction on a horizontal or vertical
number line diagram
c. Understand subtraction of rational numbers as adding the additive inverse, p q = p +
(-q). Show that the distance between two rational numbers on the number line is the
absolute value of their difference, and apply this principle in real-world contexts.
d. Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract rational numbers.

Objective:

The students will comprehend integer subtraction by converting integer addition and
subtraction problems using algebra tiles.

Evidence of Mastery:

The students will complete the worksheet to explore algebra tiles and start to discover
patterns for integer subtraction.
The students will complete a summary of any observations discovered in class as a ticket
out the door.

Sub-objectives, SWBAT:

Addition of two positive whole numbers

Addition of negative integers
Addition of opposite sign integers
Subtraction of two positive whole numbers
Subtraction of opposite sign integers
Subtraction of negative integers

Key vocabulary:

Addition
Subtraction
Positive number
Negative number
Integer
Whole number
Absolute value

Materials:

Algebra tiles
Pencil
Paper
Worksheets

Engage:
There will be a design of a thermometer drawn on the whiteboard. As students walk into class,
they will be given a slip of paper with a whole number integer on it, such as 5 or 10. The

thermometers temperature will indicate the temperature of the classroom, which will be set at 80.
The students will work with their shoulder buddy and figure out a situation in which the number on
each of their slips of paper will affect the temperature in the classroom. For instance, if a student
has 9 on their paper, then a possible situation that will affect the temperature would be that 9 more
people came into the room adding more body heat. Another example would be 21 to indicate that
the temperature dropped by 21 since everyone was staying still and not moving for some time.
Students will be given five minutes to come up with the situations. Once time is up, students will
volunteer to share their answer with the entire class. The number on the slip of paper will be used
to move the temperature of the thermometer while the students situation will be the explanation for
the change in temperature. There will be five or six students called to share their examples with
the class. In doing this activity, students will relate how temperature is one way of representing
integers in the real-world. In addition, students will get to observe the relationship of integers to
addition, which will be the building block for integer subtraction.
Teacher Will:

Student Will:

Listen carefully for explanation of algebra

tiles

Wait patiently for teacher to pass out

materials

Explore algebra tiles with given worksheet

Raise hand when any questions arise and

need clarification

Possible student questions from Activity 1:

Explain the algebra tiles to students

o Color representations
a. Yellow tiles positive 1 square
b. Red tiles negative 1 square
o Zero pair when put together, the
squares cancel each other out to
model zero, thus making them
additive inverses of each other

o When adding two negative numbers,

do I just add the amount of tiles of the
second negative number to the first
negative number?

Students will be given the worksheet

Algebra Tiles Activity 1 to explore the
algebra tiles for addition

Walk around the room to help with any

questions or clarification

o Is there a difference if the positive

number is before the plus sign and
negative number is after it compared to
the negative number before the plus
sign and the positive number is after it?

Explore

o The signs for addition (+) and

subtraction () indicate the type of
operation happening between the
tiles

Co-Teaching Strategy/Differentiation:

Explain

Students can work with their shoulder buddy to make sense of the algebra tiles and to
complete the worksheet. Each student is responsible for showing their work and completing
their own worksheet.
Teacher Will:

Student Will:

Explain the meaning of addition and how

it relates to the algebra tiles:

Listen carefully to the explanation of how

the previous worksheet represented the
addition of integers

o Addition the process of adding two

or more numbers to get a number
called the sum

Wait patiently for teacher to pass out

materials

Explore integer subtraction by using

algebra tiles with given worksheet

Raise hand when any questions arise and

need clarification

Possible student questions from Activity 2:

a. Can be viewed as combining

b. Combining involves the forming
and removing of all zero pairs

Students will be given the worksheet

Algebra Tiles Activity 2 to explore the
algebra tiles for subtraction and start to
have a basis of integer subtraction
Walk around the room to help with any
questions or clarification

o If the first number is negative and you

subtract a negative number, do you just
take away two negative tiles?
o What happens if you cannot take away
a number from another number, like 4
7?

Co-Teaching Strategy/Differentiation
Students can work with their shoulder buddy to make sense of the algebra tiles and to
complete the worksheet. Each student is responsible for showing their work and completing
their own worksheet.
Teacher Will:

Explain the meaning of subtraction and

how it relates to the algebra tiles:
o Subtraction the process of finding
the difference between two numbers

Student Will:

Listen carefully to the explanation of

how the previous worksheet
represented the subtraction of integers

Elaborate

a. Can be interpreted as takeaway

b. Can also be thought of as
adding the opposite
Co-Teaching Strategy/Differentiation
Students will discuss the observations they made in the Activity 2 worksheet with another
student in the class, besides their shoulder partner. This will allow each student to discuss
with their other peers about what they had noticed. Additionally, students will be able to see if
another student was able to discover something from the worksheet that neither partner had
seen.

Evaluate
After completing the activities above, the students will take out a half sheet of paper. On their
paper, the students will answer the following question: Provide a summary of any observations you
discovered from the worksheet and use of algebra tiles from todays class. This will count as their
ticket out the door. As well, the teacher will use it as a way to check for understanding and to focus
on technical explanation in the next lesson.

Name: ___________________________________________

Date: _______

Period: ____________

Algebra Tiles
Activity 1: Adding Integers
We are going to use positive (yellow) and negative (red) tiles to discover the rules for adding and
subtracting integers. Each tile has a value of 1 or 1.
3=

2 =

A. Try the following additions with the tiles. Draw the tiles and find the integer answer.
Model

Answer

1. 3 + 1
2. 3 + 5
3. 2 + 4
4. In every example above, what type of numbers were you adding?
5. What operation did you perform with the number parts?
6. What happened with the sign?
7. What observation can you make about adding positive integers?

B. Try the following additions with the tiles. Draw the tiles and find the integer answer.
Model
1. 2 + 1
2. 4 + 3
3. 2 + 5
4. In every example above, what type of numbers were you adding?
5. What operation did you perform with the number parts?
6. What happened with the sign?
7. What observation can you make about adding negative integers?

Answer

The Zero Pair

When two tiles of unlike signs are combined, they form a zero pair: (+1) + ( 1) = 0
+

=0

When you combine positive and negative tiles, find the zero pairs and remove them. The tiles that remain
show the answer.
C. Try the following additions with the tiles. Draw the tiles, remove the zero pairs (cross them out) and find the
integer answer.
Model
1. 3 + 1
2. 4 + 5
3. 2 + 6
4. 7 + 4
5. 2 + 5
6. In every example above, what type of numbers were you adding?
7. What operation did you perform with the number parts?
8. What happened with the sign?
9. What observation can you make about adding positive and negative integers?

Answer

Name: ___________________________________________

Date: _______

Period: ____________

Algebra Tiles
Activity 2: Subtracting Integers
We are going to use positive (yellow) and negative (red) tiles to discover the rules for adding and
subtracting integers. Each tile has a value of 1 or 1.
When you subtract with tiles, you remove the tiles that are being subtracted. What remains is your
answer.
+

53=

=2

A. Try the following subtractions with the tiles. Draw the tiles and find the integer answer.
Model

Answer

1. 3 1
2. 5 ( 2)
3. 6 4
4 7

4. Using tiles, can you do the following?

At first it appears not, but you can subtract more than you have by introducing zero pairs until you have enough.
Step 1: Start with 4 positive tiles.
+

Step 2: Introduce 3 zero pairs

+

Step 3: Remove the 7 positive tiles. This leaves 3 negative tiles, which is your answer.
+

B. Try the following subtractions with the tiles. Draw the tiles and find the integer answer.
Model

Answer

1. 2 ( 4)
2. 4 ( 6)
3. 2 5
4. 2 4
5. 5 ( 2)
6. What did you notice about subtracting integers?
7. What observation can you make about subtracting integers?

C. Try the following subtractions with the tiles by adding the opposite. Draw the tiles and find the integer
answer.
Model
1. 3 4
2. 4 ( 4)
3. 2 6
4. 3 ( 4)
5. 2 5

Answer