Matching Math Eggs (algebraic equations)

Students will use plastic eggs to match algebraic equations and their corresponding solutions.

Duration
Less than 1 hour
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson
Collections

Essential Question

How can we solve multistep equations by applying the appropriate algebraic techniques, including combining like terms, distributing, and isolating variables?

Grade(s):

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Materials: 4 dozen plastic eggs

Preparation: With a permanent marker, record equations on the tops of eggs and solutions on the bottoms of eggs. (equations and solutions provided via the worksheet linked in the resources section). Separate the tops from the bottoms of the eggs.

Lesson Progression

1. As students enter the classroom, hand them a bottom of an egg.

2. Begin with a quick review of algebraic equations. Solve −5(1 − 5f) + 5(−8f − 2) = −4f − 8f as a class.

3. Explain to students that today their challenge will be to match up variable values to equations. Show students an example, grabbing a numbered bottom and searching trial-and-error to find the matching top (think-aloud).

4. Have students search through tops to find their match. 

5. Have students trade bottoms, mix up tops and redo. Repeat 3-4 times.

Teacher Notes

Differentiation: Begin with single-step equations. Review knowledge of order of operations, values of variables, and inverse operations.

Extension: Combine laws of exponents to algebraic equations. Use equations with higher numbers of terms and increasing complexity of order of operations application.

Multi-Step Equations Examples

Use this worksheet for equations and solutions to write on the egg halves.

View Resource

Assessments

Record anecdotal notes of the accuracy with which students are matching expressions to solutions.