This activity is the first of three balance activities in which students develop intuitive strategies for writing and solving simple algebraic equations. Students drag a shape whose numerical value is known onto one side of a scale. They then drag copies of a shape with an unknown numerical value to the other side of the scale until both sides are level. Students represent this relationship with a repeated addition equation, which they simplify to a multiplication equation. Students then solve the equation to determine the value of the unknown shape. These actions are repeated for each of the shapes whose value is unknown.
(1) Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; (2) Reason abstractly and quantitatively; (3) Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; (5) Use appropriate tools strategically; (7) Look for and make use of structure.
6.EE2, 4, 5, 6, 7; 7.EE4