Negative Numbers: Temperature: Year 6

Year 6 maths worksheets on negative numbers, number lines and thermometers: 36 questions in three levels (All, Most, Some) with answers. Free PDF.

7-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank. All: Show negative numbers on a number line and a thermometer. Most: Work out temperature changes across zero. Some: Work with temperatures well below zero. Each level is two pages of six questions, each with its own diagram and space for working, and the last page has every answer, with the correct drawing for each “draw it” question. Each level is also available as its own 3-page PDF. Example questions from the Some level: Shade the thermometer to show −21°C / It is −21°C. The temperature rises by 2°C. Shade the thermometer to show the new temperature.

What are negative numbers? Negative numbers are numbers less than zero, such as −3 and −15. They are used for temperatures, bank balances and depths below sea level. Year 6 pupils use negative numbers in context and calculate intervals across zero, such as the difference between −4°C and 7°C.

Common mistakes and tips: The most common error is calculating an interval across zero by subtracting the numbers as written (7 − 4 = 3 instead of 11). Others think −8 is greater than −3. Number lines, especially vertical ones like thermometers, make both ideas clear. Counting in two steps, to zero and then beyond, works well.

This topic is part of the Year 6 National Curriculum for maths, and it regularly appears on the KS2 SATs papers. The All, Most and Some levels let you check basic fluency first and then move on to the multi-step, contextual questions found on the reasoning papers.

How teachers use these sheets: as a lesson’s independent task, as a starter to revisit a topic from earlier in the year, or as a revision pack in the weeks before the SATs. Children can mark their own work with the answer page, then explain one mistake to a partner to deepen understanding.

Reasoning and explanation: once children can answer the questions, ask them to explain their method to a partner or write a short explanation of one answer. The SATs reasoning papers include ‘explain how you know’ questions, and talking about methods deepens understanding far more than repeating calculations.

Use All for children working towards the expected standard, Most for secure Year 5 skills and Some for SATs-standard practice: three entry points to the same lesson. Suits whole-class differentiation, intervention groups, homework and SATs revision, and upper KS2 generally.

Part of a set of 42 Year 6 maths topics.