Improvements+to+initial+lesson

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During our initial math lesson using the Smartboard to teach the concept of positive and negative integers, we used a thermometer to get across the idea of a vertical number line. In our repeat lesson we used more then one thermometer and we stressed the connection between the positive / negative temperatures and the pos/ neg numbers with more student participation using the number line on the Smartboard. We also found that by adding colour -coding to the examples that the students actively solved on the Smartboard, this enabled them to see the connections / generalization of the integer ‘rules’. As a second part to our lesson, we had students practice using an interactive number line for our Integer Golf game with multiple coloured game pieces for each team. We experienced crowded chaos with 21 grade 8 bodies all trying to record their team score at the same time. For the second lesson, we changed the Golf game board to better organize the teams with each team having their own number line. We also provided each team with a paper score card and instructed the students to only record their scores on the Smartboard every other hole. As a result, there wasn’t the same waiting and crowded space in front of the Smartboard. The students used the number line more effectively and had more time to work with integers.