A Sample Lesson Plan
Title: Writing Equations
Subject: Math
Grade Level: 7-9
Objectives:
Following an experiment on variables, junior high students will be able
to give values to a variable and use this information to write an equation
and solve for the unknown variable.
Materials Needed:
For each group of 3 students: 6 small containers, 60 small countable objects,
and code sheet prepared by teacher.
Set:
Explain to students that they will play a game today in which they try
to solve other teams’ "Secret numbers."
Procedure:
1. Divide the class into groups of 3. Have each group select a recorder
to keep track of the events beginning in
step 6. Distribute 6 containers and 60 objects to each group.
2. Each group is assigned a different letter of the alphabet and each
of the group’s 6 containers is labeled with the uppercase form of that letter.
3. Each group chooses a "secret number" between one and ten and informs
the teacher of their choice. The teacher keeps a record of all "secret
numbers" on his/her code sheet, and tries to get groups to have a variety
of numbers.
4. Then have each group place the "secret number" of counters in each
of their six containers.
5. Each group will now have 6 containers, each of which contain the
same number of counters and the same letter of the alphabet. Discuss ways
to express the total number of counters in all 6 containers. For example:
if the letter is M then their six containers is represented by M+M+M+M+M+M
= 6M or if the letter is Y then Y+Y+Y+Y+Y+Y = 6Y.
6. Have each group exchange some containers with one other group. For
example, 2 M containers are exchanged for 2 Y containers. Each group records
its holdings in the following manner: M+M+M+M+Y+Y or 4M + 2Y and Y+Y+Y+Y+M+M
or 4Y +2M.
7. Each group confers with the teacher who checks the code sheet to tell
them the total number of counters their groups is holding. So if the first
group has 4M + 2Y counters, the teacher will tell them they have 22 counters.
8. Each group writes and then solves the equation they have developed
to solve for the unknown variable.
9. Students continue to trade until they have discovered each group’s
"secret number" or until the class is done.
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated through observation and written evaluation
on a worksheet.
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