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Introduction to Integers

5 min readGrade 5 · Number

Integers complete the number line. Students meet negative numbers in context — below zero, below sea level, overdrawn — and place them on a number line that extends in both directions. The concept of opposite is introduced: the opposite of +3 is −3; together they sum to zero.

What students explore

Integers complete the number line. Students meet negative numbers in context — below zero, below sea level, overdrawn — and place them on a number line that extends in both directions. The concept of opposite is introduced: the opposite of +3 is −3; together they sum to zero.

Key ideas

Represent positive and negative integers on a number line. Compare and order integers. Describe real-world contexts for negative numbers: temperature, elevation, debt. Determine the opposite of a given integer.

Putting it together

Apply these ideas through hands-on activities, guided practice, and real-world problems.

KEY VOCABULARY
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