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Year 5

Interpret sets of negative and positive numbers in a range of contexts

I can interpret sets of negative and positive numbers in a range of contexts.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 5

Interpret sets of negative and positive numbers in a range of contexts

I can interpret sets of negative and positive numbers in a range of contexts.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. For negative temperatures, the further the number is from zero, the colder it is

Common misconception

Negative temperatures relate to positive e.g. −5℃ is warmer than −3℃ because 5℃ is warmer than 3℃.

Emphasise directional relationship e.g. numbers decrease as they move to the right. Practical examples can help e.g. freezer temperature.

Keywords

  • Temperature - How hot or cold something is.

  • Elevation - Used to describe an object’s height above a given height, such as sea level.

Take practical opportunities where possible to show pupils positive and negative numbers e.g. using fridge and freezer temperatures or local multi-storey structures.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Tick all of the options where the numbers are arranged in ascending order.
Correct answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Correct answer: 3, 9, 52, 106
106, 52, 9, 3
Correct answer: −1, 0, 1
Q2.
Tick all of the negative values.
Correct answer: −1
0
1
0.5
Correct answer: −0.5
Q3.
Match the parts of the thermometer with their descriptions.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,positive

positive

Correct Answer:b,neither positive nor negative

neither positive nor negative

Correct Answer:c,negative

negative

Q4.
Which positive temperature is the same distance from zero as −20℃? ℃
Correct Answer: 20, twenty, Twenty, 20.0
Q5.
What number is exactly halfway between −7 and −6?
There is no number in between −7 and −6.
−7.5
Correct answer: −6.5
−6.25
−7.25
Q6.
Match the pairs of numbers with their correct differences.
Correct Answer:18 and 34,16

16

Correct Answer:31 and 16,15

15

Correct Answer:−2 and −20,18

18

Correct Answer:−18 and −1,17

17

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Tick all the statements that are true.
−3℃ is colder than −4℃
The temperature was −6℃. One hour later it was −5℃. It got colder.
Correct answer: −5℃ is warmer than −6℃
Correct answer: The temperature was −10℃. One hour later it was −5℃. It got warmer.
Q2.
Order these temperatures, starting with the coldest.
1 - −40℃
2 - −10℃
3 - −1℃
4 - 0℃
5 - 20℃
Q3.
Use the information in the table to tick all the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
There is a 7℃ difference between the min and max temperatures in the North Pole.
Correct answer: In October it is warmer in Sydney than it is in the North Pole.
Correct answer: The two places have the same difference between min and max temperatures in Oct.
Correct answer: Temperatures are always negative in the North Pole in October.
Correct answer: There is a 6℃ difference between the min and max temperatures in the North Pole.
Q4.
Use the information in the table to tick all the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
It is warmer in February in Antarctica than it is in January.
Correct answer: It is colder in February in Antarctica than it is in January.
Correct answer: Temperatures are always negative in January and February in Antarctica.
Correct answer: There is a 13℃ difference between the minimum temperatures in Jan and Feb.
The difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures in January is 5℃.
Q5.
Put the following numbers into ascending order.
1 - −17
2 - −16.5
3 - −2
4 - −0.01
5 - 0
6 - 0.1
Q6.
Tick all of the numbers that would appear between −31.5 and −28 on a number line.
−32
Correct answer: −29.5
Correct answer: −30.25
Correct answer: −31
−27