Good Ideas for Algebra
The focus of the activities in this book from Polygon Resources is algebra and provides students with experience of finding and explaining rules by writing down what they notice in words.
Repeating Patterns introduces the idea of prediction based on known patterns.
Matchstick Patterns looks for patterns and rules in spatial arrangements of matchsticks.
Multilink Patterns uses cubes to "grow" patterns and develop predictions and rules.
Paths is an investigation into pathways of square slabs around a rectangular flower bed.
Painted Cube uses cubes made up of a number of smaller cubes with the outside edges painted red. Students must then answer questions on the number of these smaller cubes that are painted.
Number Cells gives a starting number and a rule to produce a sequence of six numbers. Students are asked to discover links and to make predictions based on their results.
Squares is an investigation into how many squares there are on different sized chessboards.
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Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date.
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Resource by: Polygon Resources
Comments
This is a really good resource. I used it for an algebra topic for my Year 6 at the end of the Summer term and it provided a good base for encouraging children to think in terms of patterns and function rules. I felt it was a good link between what the children would do at secondary school and even the most less able could access much of the initial problems.