Using number lines in secondary maths

Five suggested number lines for use in KS3 and KS4 maths lessons

Becky Donaldson, from the NCETM's Secondary Team suggests five different number lines for use in lessons, including one appropriate for use with students aiming at the higher GSCE grades.

Show notes Taking part in the discussion are:

• Becky Donaldson, NCETM Assistant Director for Secondary Mathematics
• Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director.

Useful links

• This Espresso from Cambridge Mathematics gives more examples of number lines 
• The number lines NCETM podcast discussion with examples for KS1 teaching 
• Checkpoint 2 from the Arithmetic procedures including fractions PowerPoint, downloadable from our Checkpoints page, has a more structured version of the fourth number line in this discussion.
• The second Key Idea PowerPoint on this page of our Secondary Mastery Professional Development Materials is devoted entirely to double number lines (the fifth example in this discussion).  

Diagram

This is the sketch Becky and Steve referred to during their conversation. Click to enlarge.