Application Assignment

Application links:

Pan Balance – Shapes: https://www.nctm.org/Classroom-Resources/Illuminations/Interactives/Pan-Balance----Shapes/.

Model Algebra: https://www.mathplayground.com/AlgebraEquations.html.

Lesson Plan

Mathematics

Grade Level: 7

Time: 40 minutes

Subject: Algebraic Equations

Content and Task Decisions

Objectives

Students will be able to;

·         Identify the principles of protection of equality.

·         Recognize first order equation with one unknown

·         Solve basic first order equation with one unknown.

·         Write a first order equation with one unknown for real life stuations.

Task Questions and Instruction

Before this class, students should have studied about algebraic expression. They should known about what is algebra and variables x,y,z etc.

In this lesson, I want to teach meaning of equality of algebraic expressions and solving the basic algebraic equations. Firstly I start lesson ask student “What equality means ?” and “What is the meaning of equal sign”. Doing little discussion about this question. I think it’s important students understand this concept to solve algebraic equations.

Task 1

Go to link

1.      Put 1 square each side of the scale. And answer the questions

·         Put a triangle one side of the scale. What happen ?

·         What can you do to make balaced scale again ?

2.      Then put a square and a rhombus one side of the scale. And put other a side circle. And answer the questions

·         Are they in balanced ?

·         If yes, how and why are they in balanced ?

After this activity,  Student can understand equality with scale. In disscussion part,  I say that an equation is like balanced scale. If same amount of weight on each side of the scale, the two sides on balanced. But if we add same weight of one side then the scale will tip. They are not in balanced anymore. They can clearly see that with this task. Then, I tell equation must be in balanced so, If we change one side, then we must do exactly same changing on the other side. Mention here the second question of the task.

Then, I tell equations are like that. There must be exactly same value in both sides of the equal sign then equation can be true. However, I want clear about that, the same value should not be look same. I want that student see that in the second part of the task 1.

Then, tell students, if we have an equation like this x+6=36. We can find the value of x if we can rearrange the equation and isolate x. Then other side of the equation is equal to x.

Task 2

Then, start to solve first equation.

Problem: Ali has a box of apples. Then, he put this box and 3 kg the one arm of a scale and he put 8 kg the other arm of the scale. Then, he see that the scale is in balanced. So, what is the weight of the box ?

1.      Write the equation of this story.

2.      Go to link. Start with make your own part. Then set up the equation in the first question. Answer these questions.

·         How can we find x ? (in this part I can be a little classroom discussion about this question. I want students understant when we isolate x in balaced, we can see what value x is.)

·         “How can we isolated x?” (At this part I can say student use -1 or +1 on the tool. Then I mention again that in the tool it add -1 both side of the scale. Because of this equation can stay in balanced.) If you can isolated x click correct button and type value of x

The Story: Pedagogical & Technological Explanation

Students can misunderstand equality. One of the most common misunderstandings is students may think that the equal sign is only used to say the result of the process. Students do not think about the equality of the two sides. It is impossible to solve the equation without correcting this misunderstanding. Therefore, I aimed to teach equation solving in this course by using visual applications. In this way, I thought that students could understand the concepts of equality and balance more easily. In the first application I used, I aimed to make the students understand the equality with objects. I thought it would make it easier for them to think the same way in numbers later.

Regarding the solving equation section, I think this application will be very useful when teaching students how to solve equations. It is very misunderstood in students to leave the unknown alone. I think that students will be able to understand more easily how the equality is not broken and how the unknown can be found without breaking the equality. Because in this application, children can clearly see that if they do the same process on both sides then the equality is not broken.

Using this app came to my mind after we examine this applicaiton it the class. I like this application and think it can be very helpful fot students to understand equations. Last year, in Sced 320, we talked about how students misunderstand equality. When I do not understand the equalitiy concept, then they think that solving equations is difficult. When I saw this application, I thought it was ideal to teach children these concepts and prevent misunderstandings. I think that the concept of balance is ideal for children to understand algebraic expressions that are quite abstract.

User Manual

Pan Balance – Shapes

·         This app is designed to place the weights on the balanced scale as desired and look at the balance on the scale.

·         When scale is in balaced, it writes balanced shapes on table.

·         With this application, student can do different balaced shapes and then guess the weight about the shapes.

Model Algebra

·         Application is designed to solve equations.

·         It consists of three parts: 1 step, 2 step and make your own.

·         In 1 step, there are only equations with addition and subtraction, in 2 step there are equations with unknown with coefficients.

·         In make your own part, you can create your own equation. Slider A is for coefficent of X. Slider B for add numbers to X and Slider C is for the number that is on other side of the equation.

·         After selecting the equation, with x, + 1, -1  the equation is modelled in the balance scales arms and then click correct button. Then, using +1 or -1 is intended to leave x alone. Then click correct button again and the result is written. If x has coefficient, click divide button and it is shown that the division is done on both sides.