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Lesson Plan: A concept development lesson about matching equations and statements.

Subject: Mathematics.
Age of students: 14-15 years.
Non-digital Technology: Small and big cards,
Mini whiteboards.
Functionalities of Technology: Sending and displaying.
Time needed: 60-90 minutes.
FaSMEd Partner: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre.

Summary:
This lesson is about interpreting algebraic equations and relating them to real-life situations. After a short introduction, during which the teacher leads a discussion about variables, the students work in small groups. They are told what each of four variables (a, b, x and y) represents. They match two sets of small cards: one with equations, such as b=2, and the other with situations, such as ‘Bananas cost R2’. After the activity the teacher holds a class discussion aiming to go over the answers and draw out something about the students’ own learning and to think about the bigger conceptual issues.

Resources

Formative assessment in Science and
Mathematics Education (FaSMEd)
The Research Centre for Learning and Teaching
Newcastle University
NE1 7RU
UK

Email: fasmed@ncl.ac.uk