This exemplar has been developed to guide middle school students and instructors with Common Core standards for Math.

The rational numbers are an arithmetic system that includes 0 as well as positive and negative whole numbers and fractions. Wherever the term “rational numbers” is used, numbers of all types are implied, including fractions in decimal notation.

The straw man outline presented here does not develop the arithmetic of integers before the arithmetic of rational numbers in general. Rather, each specific phase of the outline would likely begin with integers for simplicity and incorporate other rational numbers second. As with any feature of the straw man, bidders may critique this choice and present alternatives if desired.