Printable Lesson Plan on Understanding Whole Numbers

Lesson Title:Understanding Whole Numbers

Lesson Objective: Students will be able to understand and use whole numbers in mathematical operations.

Materials: Whiteboard, dry erase markers, worksheets with whole number problems, number line

Introduction (5 minutes): Start the lesson by asking students if they know what a whole number is. Write the phrase “whole number” on the whiteboard and ask students to provide examples of what a whole number might be (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.).

Direct Instruction (20 minutes): Explain to students that a whole number is a number that can be written without fractions or decimals. Write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the whiteboard, and ask students if they are whole numbers. (Answer: Yes) Then, write the numbers 1.5, 1/2, and 0.25 on the whiteboard and ask students if they are whole numbers. (Answer: No)

Next, use a number line to show students how whole numbers are arranged in order from smallest to largest. Point out that whole numbers can be positive or negative, with zero being the only whole number that is neither positive nor negative.

Guided Practice (25 minutes): Provide students with worksheets containing problems involving whole numbers. Have students work in pairs to solve the problems, and circulate around the room to provide assistance as needed.

Independent Practice (15 minutes): Give students additional problems to work on independently. Encourage them to use the skills they have learned to solve the problems.

Closure (5 minutes): Ask students to share one thing they learned about whole numbers during the lesson. Review key concepts and remind students that whole numbers are numbers that can be written without fractions or decimals.

Assessment: Observe students during independent practice and provide feedback on their understanding of whole numbers. Collect and grade their worksheets to check their understanding.

Note: Students may have learned about natural numbers and integers, which are types of whole numbers. The lesson could be adapted to include the difference between these types of numbers as well.