One-Step Equations... How Do They Function?
Objective
Big Idea
Curriculum Reinforcer
The curriculum reinforcer, is a daily practice piece that is incorporated into almost every lesson to help my students to retain skills and conceptual understanding from earlier lessons. My strategy is to use Spiraled Review to help my students retain what they learned during the earlier part of the year. This will help me to keep mathematical concepts fresh in the students mind so that the knowledge of these concepts become a part of students' long term memories.
Engagement
Today's opening activity will be the quick task that is attached to this section. The students will take the time to figure out the solution to the task and then I will use this task during the instructional portion of this lesson to teach students about how equations with dependent and independent variables show a pattern.
Instruction & Teacher Modeling
Today, we will use the opening exercise to segue into instruction where I will show my students how equations that contain both a dependent and independent variable show a pattern. Using the opening exercise, I will demonstrate to my students how that pattern arises from the relationship between the two variables... How one is dependent upon the other and because of this dependency, there arises a pattern.
During this instructional piece, I will ensure that my students understand and can do the following:
- Determine the pattern presented in an equation
- Determine which element in a given situation is the dependent variable and which is the independent variable.
- Create an input/output table that depicts the relationship between the dependent and independent variable.
- Can relate a table of inputs and outputs to its corresponding algebraic equation.
Try It Out
In the, "Try It Out" portion of today’s lesson, my students will complete the, "Set It Up" task which is attached to this section of this lesson.
In this task, students will use the balance method to write and solve one-step equations and is designed as a learning task. Students will also learn why conventions are an integral part of mathematics.
Independent Exploration
To practice independently, my students will complete the attached task called "Toothpicks."
In this task, students will describe and generalize patterns using algebraic expressions. Students will also write and solve one-step equations.
Closing Summary
Selected students will present their solutions to the different parts of the task that they completed during the independent practice.
