Absolute Value Teaching Resources
Need absolute value worksheets and activities to make math class absolutely engaging this school year? This collection of teacher-created resources has been developed to cut the time you're spending on all that absolute value lesson planning so you have a whole lot more time for teaching this mathematical concept!
Each resource in this math teaching resource collection is curriculum-aligned to help students meet Common Core and state-level standards, and each has undergone a rigorous review by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure they're student-ready.
Maybe you're teaching math for the first time or it's been a while since you were in a classroom with 5th graders or 6th graders. Our teacher team has done their fair share of grade changes and knows what it's like to do that mad dash to brush back up on a concept they haven't taught in a year (or 5!). Here's your quick crash course!
What Is the Absolute Value of a Number? A Kid-Friendly Definition
So what is absolute value, and how do you calculate the absolute value of a number? Here's how to explain this concept to your students!
Absolute value is the distance from zero that a number is on the number line. Think about a number line, which shows the progression of digits away from zero. Absolute value is basically how many digits away from zero any particular number is.
This concept comes in handy for students when they're measuring distance, and it can be helpful when dealing with inequalities.
Absolute Value Examples
Absolute value is always a positive number because the direction you're moving on the number line does not matter! If you are looking for the absolute value of -5, for example, you would remove the negative sign. The absolute value would simply be 5.
Typically, absolute value is shown by surrounding a number with two vertical straight lines, which make up the absolute value symbol. For example, when you represent the absolute value of 8 with the absolute value symbol, you get |8|. This means “the absolute value of 8 is 8.”
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Absolute Value – Interactive Task Cards for 6th Grade
Determine the absolute value of whole numbers, fractions and decimals with this self-checking interactive game designed for 6th-grade students.
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Absolute Value – Kaboom Game
Calculate the absolute value of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions with an exciting game of Kaboom!
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Absolute Value – Bump! Games
Find the absolute value of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions with this set of Bump! games.
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Absolute Value Bingo
Practice solving equations and finding the absolute value of a number with this whole-class Bingo game.
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Absolute Value Poster
Use this math reference sheet with your students when learning about absolute value.
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Absolute Value - Matching Activity
Practice solving equations with absolute value with a 36-card match-up activity.
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Absolute Value Mazes
Calculate the absolute value of rational numbers while finding your way through this set of 3 math mazes.
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Absolute Value - Worksheet
Find the absolute value of a number and determine values to make a number sentence true with this worksheet.
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Absolute Value Equations - Color by Number
Practice finding the absolute value of rational numbers and solving equations with this color by number worksheet.
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Absolute Value Task Cards
Solve absolute value practice problems with this set of 24 task cards.
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Absolute Value and Opposites – Color by Number Worksheet
Practice finding the absolute value and opposite of a number with this color by number worksheet.