My Darlin' Number Line (The Number line song)

A memorable tune, mathematical vocabulary, and a practical application of an invaluable tool for problem based learning - Oh My Darlin' Number Line.

This slide show not only contains a song that I still hear my 5th graders sing in class but, it also contains valuable vocabulary and conceptual ties to prior knowledge to help students relate to how to use a number line. As adults we often do not realize the angst a student has while trying to choose an appropriate tool to solve a complex word problem. With devices such as songs, poems, acronyms and characters, I have been successful in helping my students build a mathematical tool kit that enables them to solve word problems and perform well on constructed response assessments.

The Number Line Song is one I use in introducing integers, rational numbers and real numbers. I revisit the Number Line song when we cover the Cartesian plane as well. My students often ask to sing this song in class. It is one of their favorites.

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