Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Harder · about 35 min

🌡️ Freezing Numbers

Pupils practise problem solving and curiosity through "Freezing Numbers": Negative numbers with temperatures.

Lesson guide

1. 1. Hook · 5 min

   Show the 🌡️ mission title and read the opening: "It's 3°C and drops 5 degrees. New temperature?". Take three quick guesses.

2. 2. Model · 5 min

   Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."

3. 3. Do · 10 min

   Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

   Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

   Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used problem solving today.

Discussion questions

• What was the hardest choice in "Freezing Numbers", and why?
• It's 3°C and drops 5 degrees. New temperature — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Difference between −4°C and 6°C — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Where in real life do we use negative numbers? Give two examples — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Where could you use problem solving outside school this week?
• If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

• National Curriculum: Maths: number, calculation, fractions and reasoning (KS1/KS2)
• National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
• National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
• PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information