| Lessons |
Lesson
Summary
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Note:
Students often have difficulty with the transition from
concrete numbers to abstract symbolic notation. The following
resources are recommended to help this transition.
The
activities below also address this critical transition.
Algebra Thinking First Experiences, by Linda Holden
Charles, published by Creative Publications
Try
A Tile, Logic With Algebra, by Marcy Cook, published
by Creative Publications.
Algebra
Tile Activities, by Don Balka.
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Pre
5a.1 Number Tricks
PDF |
Students
figure out why a number trick works. They represent the numbers
in the trick using boxes and circles and then a variable and
numbers. This process leads them to an understanding of the
trick. They write and simplify algebraic expressions to help
understand the trick. |
Pre
5a.2 Think of a Number Puzzle
PDF
Spreadsheet
worksheet |
Students use spreadsheets to
follow number trick (a series of operations on numbers of
their choice—as in Pre 5a.1). They prove that no matter
what number you choose, the final step in the sequence will
always yield the same solution. They represent the steps in
the number trick series using variables and numbers. This
representation leads them to an understanding of the trick.
They analyze why the number trick works. |
| Pre
5a.3 Writing Equations and Word Problems
PDF
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Students
work backwards and write the word problem to go with given
equations. They also practice writing and solving equations
from word problems.
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| Pre
5a.4 Writing Equations from Symbols and Stories
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Students
use symbols from story situations to write and solve a variety
of equations.
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