Hands-On Equations Sample Equations: Three Levels

 

Hands-On Equations consists of three levels.  At each level the students learn how to setup and solve the equations using the game pieces;  once they have mastered this approach, they are taught how to setup and solve the equations using only paper and pencil with the pictorial notation.

 

Level I: Lessons #1 - #7: Red Booklet.  Students use the red cubes and blue pawns to setup and solve:

 

 

 

 

Level II: Lessons #8 - #16: Blue Booklet.  Students use the red cubes, blue pawns, and white pawns to setup and solve equations such as:

  

 

 

 

 

Once students have learned the algebraic concepts using the star notation and the white pawn, they are then ready to transfer their learning and make sense of examples such as 2x + (-x) + 3 = 2(-x) + 12 and 2x - (-x) = 15.

 

Level III: Lessons #17 - #26: Green Booklet.  Students use the red cubes, blue pawns, white pawns, and green cubes to setup and solve equations suh as: