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Whodunnit? -- Two-Step Equations - Skill Building Class Activity

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Nothing like a good criminal investigation to liven up math class! Based off my popular CSI projects, I have created Whodunnits? The Whodunnits plan to focus on single content topics as opposed to units and will focus more on skill building than application.

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Most of the LEARN NC Content has been archived using the Wayback Machine. Instructions for how to access that content is below, including links to frequently requested materials.

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It's already made.

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Students will practice solving multi-step equations, including those with distribution and variables on both sides. Students are paired up and assigned half of the board. They roll two dice to see which problems they are solving. For example, if they roll a 1 and a 6, then Partner

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Relay

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Let me start by saying that relays are not an original idea..maybe you have been doing them for years...but they are new to me, (and i love them) so I figured I'd share in case anyone else has never tried relays with their class.

How they work:
Take a problem that requires multiple steps to solve, and break it up into however many steps you need to solve the problem. Then break your class up into groups that are the same size as the number of steps in a problem.

For example: Multi-Step Equations

I came up with the following 5 steps:

distribute to clear any parentheses in the problem

combine like terms within each side of the equation

add/subtract to isolate variable terms from constant terms

multiply/divide to solve for the variable

check by substituting answer in for variable

Since it is a 5 step process, I need to break the class up into groups of 5. (If your class size doesn't divide evenly by 5, you can make some groups of 4).

Give the class a problem, assign each student in a group a step of the process. Student 1 completes the first step and passes it to student 2. Student 2 checks student 1's work and then does step 2, etc. until each student has completed a step and the problem has been solved (and checked.). For a group of 4, student 1 will also complete step 5.

Repeat this process 5 times with 5 different problems, each time shifting which student starts the problem, so that by the end every student has had a turn completing each step.
I love this activity because

The students work cooperatively, but individually

The students are checking each others' work

Relays really emphasize each step in a process

Make it a race if your class is competitive. If you want to see who completed each part you can have them write in different colors. Either have them sit in a circle if you want them to be able to help each other complete their steps or have them sit in a row if you want it to be a silent activity.

Do you use relays in your class? If you have any tips, suggestions, or other ideas for them please share in the comments below!

If you don't want to make your own relay and are looking for a pre-made one, I have one on writing and graphing linear equations (using point-slope and slope-intercept form) available for sale in my TpT store, which you can get to by clicking the image below. I am planning to make several others on different topics in the near future, as well.
You can download the file for the multi-step equations relay pictured above here. (Simply print and write in your own equations!)
Thanks for reading,

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Turn Multi-Step Problems into Team Activities - Math in the Middle

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Let me start by saying that relays are not an original idea..maybe you have been doing them for years...but they are new to me, (and i love them) so I figured I'd share in case anyone else has never tried relays with their class.

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For solving two step equations, students will continue to use inverse operations. However, to make this strategy more relatable, I will refer to it as the Sock and Shoe Method.

I will share with students the idea behind the Sock and Shoe Method.
Everyday you get dressed for school. There is a certain order that you put on your uniform. And you always put on your socks before your shoes. When we're solving equations we are undoing operations or undressing them. We will work backwards. This means that we will undo the addition and subtraction first and then the multiplication and division. We will perform the order of operations in the reverse order.
For the first example I will use algebra tiles and the Solving Algebraic Equations with Algebra Tiles Worksheet, page 1. Students used these in the previous lesson, Solving 1 Step Equations.
Example 1 - Solve the equation algebraically. 2b + 2 = 8
What tiles do we need to represent this equation?

Students should use 2 green rectangles, and 10 yellow circles. They should set up the equation on the worksheet using the tiles.
What operations have been done to the variable?
Students should identify that the equation involves addition and multiplication.
If we are "undressing" the equation, what should we undo first?
We will undo the addition first. Students should remove 2 yellow tiles from the left side and 2 yellow tiles from the right side.
What operation do we have left and how are we going to undo it using the tiles?
Students should recognize that we have multiplication left and we need to divide both sides in half.

For the next few examples, I will lead students through the process of using inverse operations. I will ask the following questions for each problem:
What operations have been done to the variable?
What should we undo first?
What is the inverse operation? Example 2 - Solve the equation algebraically. 6 = 3 + 3x
Example 3 - Solve the equation algebraically. 3x + 2 = 17
Example 3 - Solve the equation algebraically. ¹/₃a + 6 = 8

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For solving two step equations, students will continue to use inverse operations. However, to make this strategy more relatable, I will refer to it as the Sock and Shoe Method. I will share with students the idea behind the Sock and Shoe Method. Everyday you get dressed for school.

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Central Park puts the power of algebra in the hands of students by asking them to design parking lots. At first, students place the parking lot dividers by hand. Then they compute the proper placement. Finally, they write an algebraic expression that places the dividers for many different lots.

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I use lots of practice activities for solving one-, two-, and multi-step equations with my Algebra I class. Solving equations is part of their middle school curriculum but most still need much practice to achieve "fluency." Here are some of the activities I use: By the Shapes Activity that I got at an NCTM conference years ago, but...

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Teacher pay teacher- crime investigation

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Teacher pay teacher- crime investigation

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CSI: Algebra -- Unit 1 -- Variables & Expressions

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Nothing like a good criminal investigation to liven up number sense! In this project, students will work in teams to investigate the culprit of six fictional thefts. The criminal has left six messages, layered with algebra. Teams will work to build a case and present their