Tag: negative numbers

Magic squares come in all sorts of formats and these are quite challenging as they involve adding negative and positive numbers and are probably most suited to Year 6 children (10/11 yrs old).

On all three squares the numbers to put into the squares are given and on the first puzzle there is a clue that each row, column and diagonal adds up to -3.

To be successful with these it is important to work out what the centre number should be and what the total of each row etc should be.

There are several different ways of solving these magic squares and just one way is shown on the answer page.

Magic square negative numbers

Children are most likely to come across negative numbers when using a calculator and they are usually taught about them in the context of measuring temperature. Number lines are also very helpful as they show that numbers continue after zero when counting down. Continue reading “Maths worksheet: Year 5 negative numbers (1)”

This worksheet takes another look at negative numbers and where they are positioned on a number line. This is a good exercise in helping children to count back through zero and then from a negative number forwards, again through zero. Each number line has a different starting and finishing number so care needs to be taken.Try to use the term ‘negative’ rather than ‘minus’ when referring to the numbers.

Place negative numbers on a number line (pg 1)

Negative numbers become an important part of maths in Year 4. Usually the best way to teach it is through practical work such as the use of thermometers when the temperature drops below zero. Whilst temperature is read using the term ‘minus’ it is a good idea to read negative numbers as ‘negative 3’ or ‘negative 5’.

There are 2 ideas at work here. Firstly, understanding the idea of numbers smaller than zero can be tricky. Children might ask how you can have a number smaller than nothing. An overdraft is always a good starting point to explain this! Also the idea that a larger digit can portray a smaller number eg -6 is smaller than -1.

This maths worksheet uses number lines that go from left to right, from a negative number through zero to positive numbers.

Order negative numbers pg 1