how can i explain negative numbers to kids that find them difficult?

Answer 1

I teach high school math, and the easiest way I've found to teach it is to use a number line. Most kids can understand it if they can see it. Good luck!

Answer 2

Explain ground level as 0 and the deeper you dig is negative. To determine how deep the hole is you have to use a measurement, but only positive numbers live above ground so negative numbers live below ground.

Answer 3

Hmm. I am an English teacher, not a math teacher, but here's what I'd try.

First, get them to think about height. Remind them that, if something is 0 inches tall, then it's on the ground. The ground is "zero." Kids can understand that: they can visualize it. They can also visualize bigger numbers as being "taller." You could even have them do some basic addition or subtraction problems: "What if I went up three feet? And then I came down two feet?"

Once you feel really confident that they understand your point and have a concrete idea about it, start asking, "But what if we dug a hole? In real life, we can go underground. What if I went up down two feet, and then I went down one more foot? I would be three feet underground. What if I went up one foot, and then down to feet? I would be one foot underground." Then you wrap it up: "Just like we can go underground in real life, we can go below zero in math."

If you help them visualize it, and present them with a variety of basic problems that they can solve concretely, then the abstract concept will come much more easily.

Answer 4

Just try the floors of buildings. Draw a big building, and the ground. Then explain that the upper floors ca be called positive, and the lower negative. The ground level is zero. I've learned them this way.

Answer 5

I put tape circles on the floor all around my class room with numbers in them. Divide the class into teams. One team mate stands in the circle and tries to throw a wad of paper into the trash can. If they make it, they get to add that many points to their teams score. If they miss, you subtract it.

Also, I have pennies. Out on the table. Lets say you have 10 pennies but the item you want to buy is 12 pennies, how many are you short (negative) or if it is only 8 pennies, how many do you get to keep (positive)

Answer 6

My teacher used a number line. Seeing the numbers on both sides of 0 helped me to visualize the concept and to take it from there.

Answer 7

Do not introduce it as something new. Start off with simple subtraction, something that they have seen before and are comfortable with. Then "expand" on the concept. Ask what happens when subtract a larger number from a smaller one. The important thing is to NOT let them think that it is something that they have never seen before, cause they have seen it.

Answer 8

Well lets see...
I method that helped me through Middle school and still helps me in high school now is
+=positive
- =negitive
++= - - v.v
+ - = - + v.v
it can be used for addition
i.e
-2+2=0
a negitive plus a positive that is equal to each other cancels out each other
A negitive number plus a positive number goes toward zero
A positive number plus a negitive number goes toward zero

Hope that helps a little bit it is a very difficult topic in math to discuss

Answer 9

Try comparing negative numbers to a hole. Or, what worked for me, was sea level. Any simple and easily visualized comparisons are good.

Answer 10

take them to a loan shark, they'll quickly learn what a negative number means, on a more serious note draw a number line that should help