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Negative number stories: 7th grade math

Real-world problems with all four operations on rationals. A free 7th grade lesson plan, a question set with answers and a printable sheet with its key. Copy it and make it yours.

Lesson plan

Goal

  • Students can do this: real-world problems with all four operations on rationals.

Teach (10 min)

  • Estimate with whole numbers first. If your real answer is far from the estimate, check it.
  • −4.6 − 2.9 is about −5 − 3 = −8. The real answer, −7.5, is close, so it checks.
  • Work one example on the board while students say each step aloud, then do one together.

Practise (15 min)

  • Students work the printable sheet in pairs, then alone.
  • Or practise it as a game with no sign-up: https://peabody.kids/math/signed.estimate?lesson=7-estimate&at=7

Exit ticket (5 min)

  • Three questions on a slip:
  • 1. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.3 + (−8.1) ≈ ?
  • 2. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −1.7 + (−2.2) ≈ ?
  • 3. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −4.4 − 6.1 ≈ ?

Question set

10 questions that read in words, easiest first. Questions that need a picture are on the printable sheet below.

  1. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.3 + (−8.1) ≈ ?
  2. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −1.7 + (−2.2) ≈ ?
  3. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −4.4 − 6.1 ≈ ?
  4. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 0.2 − 3.7 ≈ ?
  5. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −3.4 + (−5.3) ≈ ?
  6. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −2.3 − (−7.2) ≈ ?
  7. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 7.5 + (−2.6) ≈ ?
  8. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 5.8 + (−1.6) ≈ ?
  9. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.3 + 0.9 ≈ ?
  10. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −4.9 + 7.2 ≈ ?
Answers
  1. −15
  2. −4
  3. −10
  4. −4
  5. −8
  6. 5
  7. 5
  8. 4
  9. −6
  10. 2

Printable sheet

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

Negative number stories (7th grade)

  1. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −2.6 − (−0.4) ≈ ?
  2. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 0.7 − (−0.8) ≈ ?
  3. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 2.8 − 3.6 ≈ ?
  4. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −5.8 + (−8.1) ≈ ?
  5. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 0.9 + (−8.3) ≈ ?
  6. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.7 + (−0.5) ≈ ?
  7. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 11.5 + (−10.3) ≈ ?
  8. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −11.3 + (−2.6) ≈ ?
  9. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 1.8 − (−4.2) ≈ ?
  10. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −5.3 + 8.3 ≈ ?
  11. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 10.3 + (−6.2) ≈ ?
  12. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 3.5 + (−7.6) ≈ ?
Key
  1. −3
  2. 2
  3. −1
  4. −14
  5. −7
  6. −9
  7. 2
  8. −14
  9. 6
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. −4

Written by Peabody from its own skill pages. Free, no ads, no sign-in. Children can practise this on Peabody. More from teachers: teacher-shared resources.