INTEGER CHIPS

Teaching adding/subtracting integers is sometimes a difficult lesson for students to grasp. I have used the integer chips(red/yellow chips) to give the students a pictorial view of the concept for the last few years and the seem to understand better when I demonstrated adding and subtracting using the chips.

I have an overhead set of the red/yellow chips which makes it very easy to demonstrate. Having the pictorial view is very beneficial for students who are visual learners. They are able to see the red chips represent negative and yellow represent positive. This is also great when explaining zero pairs to add or subtract integers. Subtracting integers appears to be harder than adding integers and when using the integer chips it is easier for the students to see that we're actually adding the opposite by showing them how we're doing it and not just telling them this is what is done!

The only down fall in using the chips is when problems consist of large numbers. Who wants to count out 25+ chips? Plus that can be very time consuming! So, just stick with smaller numbers when demonstrating with the integer chips.

If anyone has any other ideas about teaching integers please let me know!