Mathematical goals

This lesson unit is intended to help you assess how well students are able to:

• Form and solve linear equations involving factorizing and using the distributive law.

In particular, this unit aims to help you identify and assist students who have difficulties in:  

• Using variables to represent quantities in a real-world or mathematical problem.
• Solving word problems leading to equations of the form px + q = r and p(x + q) = r.

Introduction       

The lesson unit is structured in the following way:

• Before the lesson, students attempt the assessment task individually. You then review students’ responses and formulate questions that will help them improve their work.
• During the lesson, students work collaboratively in pairs or threes, matching equations to stories and then ordering the steps used to solve these equations. Throughout their work, students explain their reasoning to their peers.
• Finally, students again work individually to review their work and attempt a second task, similar to the initial assessment task.

Materials required

• Each student will need copies of the assessment tasks Express Yourself and Express Yourself (revisited), and Card Set: Stories (not cut up), a mini-whiteboard, a pen, and an eraser.
• For each small group of students provide cut up copies of Card Set: Stories (cut up), Card Set: Equations, and Card Set: Steps to Solving, a large sheet of paper for making a poster, a marker, and a glue stick.
• There are also some projector resources to help with whole-class discussion.

Time needed

15 minutes before the lesson for the assessment task, a 1-hour lesson, and 15 minutes in a follow-up lesson (or for homework). All timings are approximate, depending on the needs of your students.