This is a 7th Grade Math Lesson on Adding & Subtracting Positive & Negative Integers. It is designed to be a 45-50 minute face-to-face lesson, however, some materials could be adapted for an online modality. Includes materials, and interactive activities for students to participate in. 

This article is an account of how negative numbers became part of the "vocabulary" of mathematicians and of some of the earliest appearances of negative numbers in calculations of the ancient civilizations of China, India and Greece. Although negative numbers were used in calculations, negative answers to mathematical problems were considered meaningless or impossible. The troubled history of negative numbers presented in this article shows how the simple mathematical principles taken for granted today have taken thousands of years to develop.

This activity promotes students to explore and analyze the number of different ways of achieving each of the specific outcomes when adding and subtracting positive and negative integers while playing the game, "Connect Three." By answering key questions, the players work out a strategy for improving their chances of winning the game. The Teachers' Notes page offers suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, ideas for support, extension and answers to questions are provided. A pdf of the game board and a spreadsheet to simulate tossing the dice are linked.