Graphing+on+a+Number+Line

=Graphing on a Number Line=

This is a basic set of 3 "ordering numbers" problems (not all rational) to start a discussion in class.

Clothesline-
My favorite activity for Graphing rational numbers on the number line came from one of my wonderful Governor's Academy teachers. I use a "clothesline" and numbers written on index cards. Students order them in small groups, and then work as a class to figure out how to fit them all together on the clothesline. Then for the next few days I add in numbers, or have them find a number to add in that will fit between two numbers already on the number line.

Just tried the clothesline activity this year...really liked the way it worked out. I had 7 groups (4 students each) and each group had around 7 cards. They ordered those 7 cards and justified on a piece of paper. I combined two groups as they finished and had them put theirs together on the class clothesline (made of three pieces of yarn- I recommend string that doesn't stretch for future reference!). The last group that finished just hung theirs on a separate area of the clothesline.

I passed out the following activity...had everyone record six numbers from another group, and work on 1-3. While groups were working I chose two of the groups to work on combining some of the ordered sets. After about 5 minutes, I switched groups. The second set got it combined down to two separate sets of ordered numbers. Then my last three groups went up and put the two sets together to make one large ordered set of numbers.

As students finished #3 and checked it with a partner, I gave them two options...one, work on questions from NCTM "Palette of Problems" found in the Middle school journal, or two, check the numbers on the number line to make sure they agreed with the results. I asked them to write down anything they thought was out of place instead of switching the cards so that we could come together to discuss any changes. They did find 3 mistakes as a group, but had it completely correct after that!