I know it looks almost impossible to enjoy integers. Students get really confused and start saying numbers trying to get the right answer. It seems pretty easy and they struggle a lot with those, why? Don't forget that we haven't used integers until 3 centuries ago and lots of the most important mathematicians were scared with those little negatives.
I want to show a new way to play with integers using two fun activities that are going to help students to make sense of negatives numbers.
First of all, using algebra tiles. You can create your own ones or just print it from here.
It is really important that you print them in two different colors, I chose orange and green. In that way the students start to realize the difference between negatives and positives. Then, the only rule is that you can cancel out a negative with a positive. So for example, if you want them to operate 7 - 9
They need to choose 7 positives cards and 9 negatives tiles and then check the rest.
After playing for a while, it is good to make them do some connections
How much it would be 700 - 900?
And -456 - 976?
Another activity would be to put a number line on the floor. It is easier if you can do it outside. Then make the students to move up every time it is a positive number and down every time it is a negative number. Another way to look at that would be to turn around every time they see a negative number. It is a good way to show that - - = + because they turn around two times so they will be in the original position. I did that with my students and some of the parents who visited the class and it worked wonderful.
