Make predictions about the weight of objects
Build a working balance
Test predictions using the balance
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WATCHMATERIALS
Balance Tower Kit
Balance Cups Kit
Building Guide
Objects Bag
Objects Mat
PRINT: Pre-Assessment (optional)
PRINT: Pre-Assessment answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Explore weight relationships
Write “balance equations”
Solve balance challenges
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WATCHMATERIALS
Balance Tower
Objects Bag
Green Cubes
Challenge Cards
Weight Relationships Challenge Mat (reverse side of Objects Mat)
PRINT: Weight Relationships Sheet
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Play In Balance
Use equations to make predictions
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WATCHMATERIALS
Balance Tower
Objects Bag
Green Cubes
PRINT: Weight Recording Sheet
PRINT: In Balance Scorecard
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Use symbols to represent objects in an equation
Solve puzzles with systems of equations
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WATCHMATERIALS
PRINT: Balance Puzzle sheets:
Level 1: Self-check version | No-answers version
Level 2: Self-check | No-answers
Level 3: Self-check | No-answers
Level ULTRA: Self-check | No-answers
PRINT: Create a Puzzle sheet
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Balance Puzzle sheets:
Level 1: Self-check version | No-answers version
Level 2: Self-check | No-answers
Level 3: Self-check | No-answers
Level ULTRA: Self-check | No-answers
Use Cups and Cubes to create “physical equations”
Set up equations on a mat
Use Trial & Error to solve equations
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WATCHMATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
OPTIONAL PRINT: Extra Practice Sheet
OPTIONAL PRINT: Extra Practice answer key
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Use physical equations to represent algebraic equations
Play Double Take
Use Trial & Error to solve algebraic equations
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WATCH
MATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
CUT: Double Take cards
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Use physical equations to represent and solve equations that involve adding negative numbers
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WATCH
MATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Learn to solve 2-step equations by isolating the variable on one side of the equation.
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WATCH
MATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Play ZERO OUT and practice using zero pairs to remove constants and isolate a variable.
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WATCHMATERIALS
ZERO OUT board (reverse side of one of the CARD X mats)
Dice
Cups and Cubes
Blank Mat (on reverse side of Equations Mat)
PRINT and CUT OUT: ZERO OUT number line
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Use balanced moves combined with
zero pairs to solve an equation.
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WATCHMATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Apply the distributive property to solve equations.
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WATCHMATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Translate the Cups & Cubes model into pencil-and-paper equation solving.
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WATCHMATERIALS
Equations Mat
Cups and Cubes
Equation Practice Cards
PRINT: Graphic Organizer
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
(No practice sheets are used in this lesson)
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Solve more complex equations
using pencil and paper.
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WATCHMATERIALS
PRINT: Practice Sheet
PRINT: Practice Sheet answer key
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
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Play an equations game to close out Balance Lab.
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WATCH
MATERIALS
Card X mats (2 per game; one appears on the back of the ZERO OUT mat )
Card X gameboard (1 per game)
Card X cards (green and black)
Red & yellow cubes
PRINT: Exit Ticket
PRINT: Exit Ticket answer key
PRINT: Post-Assessment
PRINT: Post-Assessment answer key
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