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Modular Arithmetic Lesson Plan

Instructor: Maria Airth
Modular numbers are simply numbers following a different pattern than the typical 0 to 9 we know well. This lesson
plan guides you through teaching modular arithmetic to students using discussion, examples, and activities.
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Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:

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Lesson
Course

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Length
Warm-up and Instructions -30 minutes

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Curriculum Standards
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.NS.A.1

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Materials
Printed transcripts of the video lesson Modular Arithmetic: Rules & Properties and hard copies of the lesson
quiz
Audio/Video equipment
Poster paper
Art supplies
Index cards (one set for each group showing the numbers 0 through 4)
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Warm-up
Begin the lesson with a discussion on integers. Ask:
Does anyone remember what an integer is?
How are integers different from counting numbers?
What pattern can you see in our integers and counting numbers? {The pattern is the repeating ten
numbers in the ones place value.}
Tell your students that regular integers can be said to be mod10 because of the repeating pattern of ten
numbers and today you will be discussing different patterns of numbers.
Ask everyone to get out paper for note taking.
Write the word 'NOTES' on the board. Instruct students to do the same on their own paper. Explain that you will
be helping them take notes through the lesson as a study guide.

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Instruction
Hand out the transcripts of the video lesson.
Start video. Pause at time marker 0:52. Discuss:
What is 'clock arithmetic'?
Can you think of any other common examples of modular counting?
What should we add to our notes?
Write 'clock arithmetic', 'modular arithmetic' and 'modulus' on the board and ask students to give you
definitions for each.
Continue the video, pausing at time marker 1:27. Ask:
So, can anyone tell me the remainder method in your own words? {Write this on the board as a note.}
In modular 7, what is 5 + 3? {1}
What about 5 + 9? {0, 5+9=14 divided by 7 = 2 with 0 remainders so the answer is 0}
Update the class notes (on the board) with an example of the remainder method for determining a modular
answer.
Continue the video, pausing at time marker 2:00. Discuss:
What does congruent mean?
Did you notice the formatting for writing modular numbers?
Can anyone name another number that is congruent to 5mod12?
Instruct students to update their notes, while you update the class notes on the board, with the term
'congruent' and an example from the lesson.
For the remainder of the lesson, pause after each set of rules is listed and instruct students to write these
rules in their notes, then choose a few students to calculate examples of the methods shown in each section
on the board. For each section discuss:
How can these rules be restated in common speaking language?
Finish the lesson by playing the 'Lesson Summary' section.
Update the class notes if necessary.
Allow students time to review the concepts and ask questions before taking the quiz.
Hand out the lesson quiz. Go over each question and answer with the class after they have finished it.
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Activity 1 - Active Game

Divide the class into groups of four or five and have them line up on one side of the game area (it should be
large enough to allow for running).
Give each group a set of index cards.
Identify a target spot on the opposite side of the game area.
Explain the game:
Mod5 is the base for this game.
I will call out a whole number and your group will need to figure out what its mod5 equivalent is.
Find the card showing the right answer and send a group member running for the target.
The first team to the target wins the round.
You must change runners each round.
Give an example by calling out the number '11'; students should have chosen the '1' card from their set and
send a runner to the target.

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Activity 2 - You Teach It

Divide students into pairs.
Give each pair a piece of poster paper.
Instruct the students to use the poster paper to present their own method for teaching modular arithmetic.
They must include:
A real world example of modular numbers in use (like the clock example in the lesson).
At least two arithmetic operations with at least two examples for each.
Clear steps describing the method to calculate at least two arithmetic operations using modular
numbers.
A graph of the whole number set to 100 in terms of the mod number they choose.

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Activity 3 - Quiz Each Other

Instruct students to compose a 10 to 20 question quiz on modular arithmetic.
Remind students to create an answer key for their quiz.
Have students swap papers and take their classmate's quiz.
Ensure that students then swap back and grade each other's work.

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Related Lesson
Modular Arithmetic: Examples & Practice
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