Session 2 - Equality and Inequality

Grade Band 6-8 - Equality and Inequality (Grade 6)

Directions for Scoring & Understanding Student Responses

While students are doing the pre-knowledge check, you will want to be watching for their processes and their results. When they feel ready to share, look at their responses and chat with the students. Use the suggestions below to help decide if they “got it” or are still struggling with this skill.

Answers for pre-assessment activities are included on the activity sheet.

Sample Thinking Prompts:

Common Problems	Question to Pose to Student
Student does not know how to start.	“Can you tell me what operation the equation is showing?”
Student makes an error solving one of the equations.	“Can you talk me through the steps you used to solve this equation?”

Please Note

If students were unable to grasp the skills in the Pre-Lesson Knowledge Check or provided incorrect answers, they should review the skills needed before this lesson. See the section above, “Progression of Skills” for ideas and resources. Otherwise, proceed to the next section.

Note: If this activity seems to take a long time, this would be a good breaking point.

Step 3

Visit the Resource Bank to learn more.

Model & Think: Math Lesson (50 - 65 minutes):

Activity:

Igniting Background Knowledge (5-10 minutes)

Before delving into the lesson let’s warm up the student’s brains.

Activity: Equality Worksheet and Manipulatives

Directions:

Before delving into the lesson let’s warm up the student’s brains.

The Equality Worksheet + Manipulatives activity has students solving equations. The manipulatives are helpful if they do not understand how to solve them.
Here is a Manipulatives video explaining how to use these manipulatives.

If helpful, review the One-step Equation & Answers activity and students' responses. Use the manipulatives to help guide students who are struggling. Students may also find it easier to apply this concept with the manipulatives.
If students seem like they need more practice with this skill, please pause here and have them use additional equation worksheets for practice (pages 1-3). This resource is also a great walkthrough explanation of working with one variable.

Decorative question mark:

Why are students doing this/what are they getting out of it?

To solve inequality statements students must first know how to solve equations. Solving equations helps solve inequalities. This activity has students practice this skill. The manipulatives may be used to help in solving these equations.

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