About This Lesson
In this unit, students use algebra tile manipulatives to model and solve linear equations. Lesson 1 hooks students with number tricks and then explores how those tricks work by subtly undoing all the operations they have done. Students also learn how to represent equations with algebra tiles. In Lesson 2, students begin solving equations with tiles. Lesson 3 introduces equations with negative constants. In Lesson 4, students transition from manipulatives to symbolic algebra. Finally, Lesson 5 integrates number tricks into the students' new symbolic approach.
