Noyce Foundation
Tri-Triangles
Develop an understanding of algebraic sequences through an exploration of patterns. Five leveled problems target grade levels from elementary through high school. Each problem asks young mathematicians to recognize a geometric pattern....
Virginia Department of Education
Exponents
Expand your knowledge of exponents with an activity that promotes critical thinking and comparison skills. Middle and high schoolers compare numbers written in expanded and exponential form and explain their strategies for solving...
Curated OER
Recognize, create and Record Simple Repeating Patterns
Young scholars analyze, create, and record repeating patterns. In this geometry lesson plan, students create shapes using patterns and keep track of the different shapes. They incorporate transformation and reflections into their patterns.
Curated OER
National Symbol Patterns
Students discuss and create their own patterns. They practice and improve on making patterns of their own using red, white, and blue paper for a national theme. The symbols are based on what the teacher picks for the class.
Curated OER
Caterpillar Connections
Third graders investigate numerical and geometric patterns and express them in words or numbers. In this algebraic reasoning lesson, 3rd graders analyze the structure of the pattern and how it changes or grows, organize information...
Curated OER
George and Sam Save for a Present
Third graders develop their algebraic thinking by recognizing a variety of patterns using concrete objects, numbers, tables, and pictures. For this George and Sam Save for a present lesson, 3rd graders communicate their mathematical...
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 1: Getting Ready Module
This fabulous resource is a must-have for any algebra teacher's arsenal of lessons. Developing the idea of equations and use of variables from basic physical scenarios, learners gain valuable intuition in the structure and meaning of...
5280 Math
Go with the Flow
Round and round they go ... where they stop, only scholars will know. By writing systems of equations, classes determine the number of cars a roundabout can handle given specific constraints. Systems use up to six variables and become...
5280 Math
Capture the Points
Play a game of capture the points. Young scholars receive a number line with specific points graphed and must write an inequality that captures all the points. The second task of the algebra project is to write an inequality with...
Virginia Department of Education
Complex Numbers
Build on your class' understanding of real numbers as they begin working with complex numbers. Pupils begin with an exploration of i and the patterns in the powers of i. After developing a definition for i, they simplify complex number...
5280 Math
Step by Step
One step at a time! A seemingly linear relationship becomes an entirely new type of function. Young scholars build their understanding of step functions by completing a three-stage activity that incorporates multiple representations of...
Mathematics Vision Project
Geometric Figures
Logical thinking is at the forefront of this jam-packed lesson, with young mathematicians not only investigating geometric concepts but also how they "know what they know". Through each activity and worksheet, learners wrestle with...
Noyce Foundation
Boxes
Teach your class to think outside the box. Scholars use the concept of equality to solve a problem in the assessment task. They determine how to use a scale to identify the one box out of a set of nine boxes that is heavier than the others.
Curated OER
Decode Word Is..
Students solve problems using patterns. In this algebra lesson, students identify the relation, domain and range of a function. They graph functions using coordinate pairs.
National Security Agency
A Balancing Act: Solving Multi-Step Equations
Wow! Put on that thinking cap and solve multi-step equations. To solve equations, learners review the use of the distributive property and combining like terms. This three-day lesson comes with about 20 pages of worksheets, warm-ups,...
Curated OER
What's My Function?
Fifth graders utilize input/output tables to help them solve algebraic equations. They incorporate patterns, number sequences and relations to represent and analyze mathematical problems and number relationships using algebraic symbols.
Curated OER
Food Pyramid Power
Young scholars investigate patterns in the Food Pyramid. In this patterns in the Food Pyramid lesson, students sort food into different food groups. Young scholars make patterns with food from different food groups. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Table Settings
Fifth graders explore and examine how to make organized lists and find patterns to help them solve problems. They identify, analyze and determine a rule for predicting and extending numerical patterns involving operations of whole...
Virginia Department of Education
Translate and Evaluate
Hopefully nothing gets lost in translation. Pupils translate between verbal phrases and algebraic expressions. They then use candy to determine what values to substitute into the expressions.
Curated OER
Describing Patterns
Fourth graders investigate repeating and growing patterns. Models, graphs and words are used to describe, extend and represent patterns. Students use evidence from models and graphs to support the identification of patterns.
Curated OER
Is the System Fair?
Students investigate shapes and patterns. In this algebra lesson plan, students move from concrete to abstract understanding of shapes and concepts. They use variable to identify the unknown.
Curated OER
Tilted Squares and Right Triangles
Students investigate squares. They generate patterns from structured situations and find a rule for the general term and express it using words and symbols. Students generate patterns from a rule and substitute values and formulas.
Curated OER
Linear Functions
Fifth graders investigate the concept of a function in relationship to how it is used. The concept is essential for the future study of Algebra. They apply the use of patterns with its relationship to functions.
Curated OER
The Window Problem
Students identify patterns and compute formulas to solve the problems. In this algebra activity, students come up with a rule given a pattern, and analyze the relationship between data and graphs.