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Free Grade 3 Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems Lesson Plans

Free Grade 3 lesson plans for Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems: 12 real questions with a full answer key and worked solutions. Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.

Price

Free

Difficulty

Core

Estimated time

35 min

Total marks

24

Learning objectives

Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.

  • UnderstandExplain introducing negative numbers word problems

    Explain introducing negative numbers word problems accurately in a familiar context.

    Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items

  • ApplyCalculate introducing negative numbers word problems

    Calculate introducing negative numbers word problems accurately in a familiar context.

    Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items

  • AnalyseCompare introducing negative numbers word problems

    Compare introducing negative numbers word problems accurately in a familiar context.

    Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items

  • EvaluateJustify introducing negative numbers word problems

    Justify introducing negative numbers word problems accurately in a familiar context.

    Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items

Prerequisites

Close these gaps first — each has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.

How Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems works

Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.

Key wordsintegernegativepositivenumber line

12 practice questions

Easy to hard, 24 marks in total. Try them first, then open the answers.

  1. 1.6 − 6 = ?[1]
  2. 2.7 − (-7) = ?[1]
  3. 3.8 − 4 = ?[1]
  4. 4.-4 − (-3) = ?[1]
  5. 5.1 + (-1) = ?[2]
  6. 6.-9 − 7 = ?[2]
  7. 7.14 − (-14) = ?[2]
  8. 8.-17 − (-11) = ?[2]
  9. 9.-26 × 11 = ?[3]
  10. 10.-26 × (-30) = ?[3]
  11. 11.-11 − 9 = ?[3]
  12. 12.21 × 12 = ?[3]
Show answers and working
  1. 1. 0

    Subtracting 6 is the same as adding -6. 6 + (-6) = 0

  2. 2. 14

    Subtracting (-7) is the same as adding 7. 7 + 7 = 14

  3. 3. 4

    Subtracting 4 is the same as adding -4. 8 + (-4) = 4

  4. 4. -1

    Subtracting (-3) is the same as adding 3. -4 + 3 = -1

  5. 5. 0

    Start at 1 on a number line. Move 1 left. You land on 0.

  6. 6. -16

    Subtracting 7 is the same as adding -7. -9 + (-7) = -16

  7. 7. 28

    Subtracting (-14) is the same as adding 14. 14 + 14 = 28

  8. 8. -6

    Subtracting (-11) is the same as adding 11. -17 + 11 = -6

  9. 9. -286

    Multiply the sizes: 26 × 11 = 286. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: -286

  10. 10. 780

    Multiply the sizes: 26 × 30 = 780. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 780

  11. 11. -20

    Subtracting 9 is the same as adding -9. -11 + (-9) = -20

  12. 12. 252

    Multiply the sizes: 21 × 12 = 252. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 252

Worked examples

Easy example

7 + 9 = ?

  1. Start at 7 on a number line.
  2. Move 9 right.
  3. You land on 16.
  4. Answer: 16
Medium example

-12 × (-14) = ?

  1. Multiply the sizes: 12 × 14 = 168.
  2. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative.
  3. Answer: 168
  4. Answer: 168
Hard example

-9 − 21 = ?

  1. Subtracting 21 is the same as adding -21.
  2. -9 + (-21) = -30
  3. Answer: -30

Interactive practice

Free, no account required — answer on screen or print it.

Common mistakes

What learners typically get wrong, and how to fix it.

  • Thinks −8 is bigger than −3.

    Correction: Further left on the number line means smaller.

  • Treats − (−4) as −4.

    Correction: Two minus signs together become a plus.

Teacher tips

  • · Use a vertical number line like a thermometer.

Parent tips

  • · Compare winter temperatures from the weather forecast.

Real-life applications

  • · Temperatures below zero, bank balances, floors below ground.

Assessment objectives

How mastery is evidenced, and which standards it maps to.

NATIONAL-CURRICULUM NAT-919.1 — Mapped statement covering Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems.IB IB-116.2 — Mapped statement covering Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems.

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Frequently asked

Is this Grade 3 Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems lesson plan really free?
Yes. Every lesson plans on FreeMathWorksheet is free to use, print and share — no account, no paywall and no watermark.
What should a learner already know before this?
Start with Introducing Negative Numbers Techniques, Introducing Negative Numbers Essentials, Number Formation. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
How is the lesson plan sequenced?
Recognition first, then understanding, application, reasoning and finally mastery — the same ladder used across every free resource on the platform.
What comes next after Introducing Negative Numbers Word Problems?
Move on to Introducing Negative Numbers Common Errors, Working with Negative Numbers, Negative Numbers in Context, which build directly on this idea.

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