Willow Tree
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
Old mathematicians never die; they just lose some of their functions. Studying sequences gives scholars an opportunity to use a new notation. Learners write functions to model arithmetic and geometric sequences and use them to find new...
EngageNY
Integer Sequences—Should You Believe in Patterns?
Help your class discover possible patterns in a sequence of numbers and then write an equation with a lesson that covers sequence notation and function notation. Graphs are used to represent the number patterns.
Illustrative Mathematics
Guess My Number
Make a game out of solving equations. This particular activity works well for pairs of learners. Follow the instructions to have player one pick a number and player two verbally give an equation. Participants need to make sense of a...
EngageNY
Geometric Sequences and Exponential Growth and Decay
Connect geometric sequences to exponential functions. The 26th installment of a 35-part module has scholars model situations using geometric sequences. Writing recursive and explicit formulas allow scholars to solve problems in context.
K20 LEARN
Didn’t We Already Learn That Pattern? Functions/Arithmetic Sequences
Just how many toothpicks does the pattern take? After watching a video of someone building a pattern with toothpicks, groups create methods to find the number of toothpicks needed to accomplish that task. Groups either use explicit...
Virginia Department of Education
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
Future mathematicians learn about arithmetic and geometric sequences, as well as common ratios and differences as they complete a worksheet matching sequences with the algebraic expressions that represent them.
EngageNY
Recursive Challenge Problem—The Double and Add 5 Game
As a continuation of a previous lesson, this activity builds on the concept of calculating the terms of a sequence. Pupils are challenged to determine the smallest starting term to reach a set number by a set number of rounds. Notation...
Curated OER
Exploration Sequence of Bounces
New skills are developed as students use graphing calculators and ranger technology to capture and graph the sequence of bounces a ball makes when dropped. After recording the height of four or more bounces, they use the collected data...
Curated OER
Solving Using Linear Equations
Seventh graders explore linear equations. They observe the relationship between linear equations an patterns. Students make decisions using information given in graphs to solve linear equations. They perform a toothpick activity to...
Virginia Department of Education
Matter and Energy: Equations and Formulas
Using simple materials, an informative instructional activity demonstrates the Law of Conservation of Matter and explains how to balance chemical equations. Young chemists perform experiments, analyze reactions, and balance chemical...
Curated OER
Fibonacci II
Study Fibonacci sequences and see a related set of numbers. Learn and review Lucas numbers and use of quadratic equations to find a general term of a sequence of numbers that is generated by a recurrence relation similar to Fibonacci's.
Illustrative Mathematics
Christina's Candies
Help Christina figure out how many chocolate and lemon candies she has with a lesson on decomposing numbers. When presenting this context to the class, the teacher chooses the total number of candies and the number that are chocolate,...
Willow Tree
Linear Relationships
There's just something special about lines in algebra. Introduce your classes to linear equations by analyzing the linear relationship. Young mathematicians use input/output pairs to determine the slope and the slope-intercept formula to...
Virginia Department of Education
Cover Up Problems
Don't cover up this resource — use it out in the open! Pupils learn how to cover up various parts of a linear equation in order to help solve the equation. A worksheet of problems provides practice with this skill.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Point-Slope Application Problems
Create a linear equation for a problem when the intercept information is not given. The two-day lesson introduces the class to the point-slope form, which can be used for problems when the initial conditions are not provided. Pupils...
Teach Engineering
The Fibonacci Sequence and Robots
What better way to introduce the idea of a sequence than with robots! An educational instructional activity explains the classic Fibonacci sequence before pupils build and program a robot to move. Additionally, the instructional activity...
Virginia Department of Education
Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Make the connection between the distance formula and the equation of a circle. The teacher presents a lesson on how to use the distance formula to derive the equation of the circle. Pupils transform circles on the coordinate plane and...
Kenan Fellows
Dinner Party: Using Pattern Trains to Demonstrate Linear Functions
Nothing fancy here ... just your run-of-the-mill Algebra party! Learners explore the patterns of linear functions while designing seating arrangements for a dinner party. Comparing the number of tables to the perimeter of the combined...
Virginia Department of Education
Give or Take a Few
Young mathematicians extend their knowledge of rational numbers on a number line to graph inequalities by first using number cards to compare rational numbers. They finish by using similar reasoning to graph inequalities on a number line.
Curated OER
Writing Equations Mixed Review
Students write equations based on a pattern. In this algebra activity, students calculate the arithmetic and geometric mean of a sequence. They rewrite word problems as a linear equation and solve real life scenario based on the given data.
Curated OER
Writing Equations from a Table
Students graph and evaluate equations. In this algebra activity, students are given pairs of coordinates and asked to write an equation representing the values. They are also given values to plug in to their equations and evaluate.
Willow Tree
Patterns - Numbers, Shapes, etc.
Find the pattern is the name of the game! Learners examine different patterns represented by numbers, shapes, and words. They must describe the pattern, predict the result in a given position, and find an equation that represents a...
Curated OER
Difference of Squares
Learners analyze arithmetic statements. In this difference of squares lesson, students explore patterns and factor the difference of two squares. They compare quantities with integers. Learners model and solve equations.
Curated OER
Skeleton Tower
Your algebra learners build a quadratic function in this task of counting the blocks used to build objects. The arithmetic sequence that shows up brings up a shortcut to the long addition using the Gauss Method. Eventually, learners...