FREE Classifying Rational Numbers Lesson and Activities

How to Teach Classifying Rational Numbers?

I love teaching classifying rational numbers. I don’t know why I like it so much but I think part of the reason is that the students already know pieces of this lesson and I am just helping them connect things they’ve learned in math previously to this new skill.

The best math lessons are the ones were students make connections to something they have learned before. Research shows that when students are able to make connections to things that they already know, then those new topics stick in their brain better.

This set of classifying rational number lessons has students use number lines and come up with their own definition of things like whole numbers, which they have been using since kindergarten.

This lesson plan was originally written to be used within a classroom that uses small groups. So you will see four days of lessons that should take 15 to 20 minutes each and then the teacher would pull small groups for intervention or extra practice on this topic. However, you could also condense the lesson into 2 to 3 days depending on the length of your class period. 

You can download the set of lessons here for free. The lesson plans are editable and there is also a set of activities that go with the lesson plans.

How to Practice Classifying Rational Numbers?

If you would like more ways to practice classifying rational numbers, I have tons of resources in my TPT store. I would use these additional resources for extra practice throughout the year, for homework, for substitute lesson plans, or for stations in a small group math classroom.

ZONK! A Math Review Game for Middle School Math-Have Fun Reviewing Math

A quick middle school math review game no technology required (Except a document camera and a projector)

Middle School Math Review Game

What game can I use to review math with my middle school students?

Technology is great. But I do think that students need time in the classroom that require no technology. A teacher early in my career introduced me to the game ZONK. It helps students stay engaged in a review and creates some friendly competition.

You need some popsicle sticks. About 20 to 25 of them.  On about 18 of those popsicle sticks write the values 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600. On the remaining popsicle sticks write the word ZONK! Place these popsicle sticks in a cup where students cannot see the writing on the sticks. 

You can review any topic that you want. You can use task cards, a cut up worksheet, a released state exam or problems that you write on index cards. You just need to be able to display them under a document camera. If you want to get really fancy, you can create slides in Google slides with problems on them and display that. 

Split your class into 2 to 4 groups. Each group will get a problem to work on displayed for everyone to see. Each group needs to work on the problem in case a group does not give a correct answer and they are able to steal their turn. Once a group gets the correct answer, they get to pick popsicle sticks out of the cup. They can pull out as many as they want and rack up the points. However as soon as they pull out the word ZONK, they lose all of the points they would have collected that round.

My classes loved the competition and it was fun to watch team come up with their strategies. Do they just draw one stick and be happy, or do they keep going and risk it. 

Have you used this game before? How did your students like it?

Introduction to Inequalities with Desmos and Real-World Situations

 I think introducing inequalities is so much more interesting and fun than equations. There are so many more real-world situations that students can relate to. 

"Your mom says she will give you no more than $20 for lunch this week. How much money could she give you?"

"You need to be at least 48 inches to ride the roller coaster. How tall could you be and still ride it?"

"The elevator can hold up to 750 pounds. How much can the elevator hold?"

You can have some fun discussions with your students and even those students who struggle with math can participate because it is something they can relate to. It is  great way to help students build confidence. Math isn't just a set of steps and algorithms--its a way to explain the world around us. 

So this year, I was in the classroom because of lack of substitute teachers and got to start the inequality unit with some 6th graders. These are the two activities I used with students. (My campus currently has enough devices for every student.)

1. Desmos Inequalities on a Number Line

Have you used Desmos? You might know it as an online graphing calculator, but it is so much more. There are lessons on there that you can walk students through, see what they are doing in real-time, and give immediate feedback. 

The assignment I have linked has students place value on the number line with prompts like "a number less than 3." This starts students thinking about how there are multiple numbers that fit that prompt. One class would only every pick whole numbers and I had to push them to see 1.5 as a value they could select. 

Eventually this assignment shows students how we use a shaded number line to show all possible solutions. 

2. Google Slides Beginning Inequalities

Next, I had students look at some real-world statements on the board and place possible solutions on the number line. I had several students come up to the board and use a marker to mark their possible answers. Again, all students were able to participate because theses were situations they experienced in their daily lives. 

Now I know that when we get into solving and writing inequalities, that students may struggle. But by starting the unit with some low floor activities, the students can build their confidence and it is something I can continue to refer back on.