Recently, Apeejay School, Model Town, organised an engaging and concept-driven mathematics activity for Class VI students to strengthen their understanding of integers through the innovative ‘token model’ from The Other Side of Zero. The session transformed the classroom into a lively, hands-on learning space where students explored how positive and negative numbers interact through visual and tactile representations.
Using red tokens for positive integers and black tokens for negative integers, students created zero pairs, a red and a black token combined to make zero. This simple yet powerful method enabled them to see how opposite numbers cancel each other out clearly. With each step, the learners became more confident in performing integer addition and subtraction, replacing abstract thinking with concrete, meaningful practice.
The activity was conducted under the guidance of the Math Department, which encouraged students to experiment, question, and verify their answers through peer discussion. As they arranged tokens, formed zero pairs, and simplified expressions, a noticeable shift occurred; students who once hesitated with integers began solving problems with ease and accuracy. The tactile experience helped them internalise that adding a negative number is similar to removing a positive one, and subtracting a negative is equivalent to adding a positive.
The classroom buzzed with excitement as groups challenged each other with integer expressions, checked solutions using zero pairs, and explained their reasoning with newfound clarity. Teachers also appreciated the collaborative spirit, logical discourse, and enthusiasm displayed by the students throughout the activity.
The activity enabled students to develop a clear and intuitive understanding of integers by visualising how positive and negative numbers interact. Through forming zero pairs, they grasped the fundamental idea that opposite integers cancel each other out, making addition and subtraction far easier to comprehend. The Token Model helped transform abstract operations into concrete, hands-on actions, strengthening their number sense and eliminating common misconceptions about negative numbers.
The activity concluded with proud smiles and stronger mathematical intuition, reaffirming Apeejay School, Model Town’s commitment to experiential, student-centred learning.