Equivalent expressions may get mixed reviews from your 6th graders. Some students will be so excited, others will be nervous, and then you’ll have a few who don’t know what that means. This is when you have to decide what you’re going to do: cry or become motivated. So, today we’re going to help you get motivated & find engaging, low-prep ways to get your students practicing with equivalent expressions (CCSS 6.EE.A.4).
Identifying equivalent expressions is the final standard your students learn about before beginning to solve expressions. This is an important skill for your classes to master because it’s the foundation as they move onto solving equations. There are a few essential vocabulary words you’ll want to make sure you go over, and use during your instruction.
Because students aren’t solving equations yet, they have to understand the concept of equivalent expressions. This can be difficult for some learners, but luckily there are lots of ways to reinforce these skills. Every class has a variety of students, so check out this list with a variety of resources to use! (Be sure to also check out 12 Ways to Practice Writing Expressions for more fun activity ideas!)
Activities:
- Equivalent Expressions Maze
- Equivalent Expressions Knockout Game
- Equivalent Expressions Escape Room
- Equivalent Expressions Matching Game
- Partnering Cards
- Distributive Activity
- PBS Video
- Kahoot
Equivalent Expressions Maze
The equivalent expressions maze is a great resource for an assessment, bell ringer, independent practice, etc. If you’ve never used a maze before, you’re about to fall in love! When you assign a maze to your students, you can easily spot any mistakes they’ve made. I find that can sometimes be the most time consuming part of working with students one-on-one. I’ve been able to have some fantastic math conversations with students while working on a maze. This resource comes with three different mazes and answer keys.
Equivalent Expressions Knockout Game
Tacos, salsa, competition, and equivalent expressions all wrapped into one activity? I didn’t know life could get any better! If your sixth graders are anything like mine, they’re going to be obsessed with the Equivalent Expressions Knockout Game.
I prefer to use a knockout game for a test review, but you can use it however you see fit. I think it’s so important for teachers to include interactive games for students. Engagement can be difficult with tweens, which is why I try to incorporate as many games as I possibly can!
Equivalent Expressions Escape Room
I recently went to an escape room with some colleagues, and we weren’t able to get out in the time given. I always try to set up a preface for my students when I introduce a new escape room activity. I’m saving that (embarrassing) story for the Equivalent Expressions Escape Room.
This year I have a handful of gifted and talented students and I sometimes struggle finding ways to challenge them. Like most activities, they flew through the escape room. I decided to assign these students to create their own equivalent expressions escape room. It was a great way to help challenge these students, and then their peers were able to play it as well.
Have you tried a digital math escape room yet? Teachers & students rave about them! To see what all the fuss is about, click the link below, drop your email, and we’ll send you this FREE digital math escape room!
This escape room is built in Google Slides and has 3 puzzles- one for combining like terms, one for distributive property, and the final one for solving 2-step equations. Grab yours today!
Equivalent Expressions Matching Game
I strongly believe that no one is ever too old to play a matching game! This Equivalent Expressions Match Game is not only FREE, but it has a variety of resources within it. This activity comes with matching cards, a matching answer sheet, incomplete cards, a worksheet matching game, exit ticket activity, and a rolling to evaluate worksheet.
Finding quality resources for complex math can be just a little difficult at times, that’s why I was so excited when I found this resource. I can’t wait to use these in my stations next week! Each day, students will have the next activity from the packet to work on. It provides scaffolding and extension activities with no effort on my part.
Partnering Cards
Partnering Cards from Cognitive Cardio Math uses equivalent expressions to provide students with the opportunity to move around while practicing their math skills. There are enough sets of cards for up to 36 students, but I hope you don’t have to use them all. All you have to do to prepare is copy and cut out the cards. I like to keep them in a baggie labeled with the standard.
The first time I used partnering cards with my students, I was pleasantly surprised with how much they liked it. In order to get more practice and mastery out of my kids, I time the class to see how fast the ENTIRE class can correctly match all of the cards
Distributive Activity
With COVID-19, there are so many students who have large gaps in their learning. Before the pandemic, I always made sure to take time to scaffolding in order to help my students be as successful as possible. With the pandemic, it is even more important that you review necessary skills.
The Distributive Property Activity is an online resource that is a great tool to hold onto. If your students don’t understand the distributive property, they’re not going to master equivalent expressions. I highly, highly, highly recommend using this resource to review and to support your lower performing students.
PBS Video
To piggyback off of my last resource, this video is an excellent way to remind students of past standards. This PBS Video is two minutes long and uses a cartoon to explain how important the distributive property is. “While the problems begin with whole number expressions, students soon work toward algebraic notation and eventually develop the idea that ax + bx can be rewritten as x(a + b).“
As always, questions are a great way to engage your students during a video:
- Explain why all of these equations are equivalent
- 5+15
- 5×1 + 5×3
- 5(1×3)
- Does the distributive property work with algebraic expressions? Defend your answer.
- Write TWO equivalent expressions for 7x + 9
Kahoot
I owe Kahoot for basically everything I know about TikTok. I usually (depending on the class) let my students enter fun names. There’s always a few new trends that my students end up teaching me about. This time around with Kahoot was no different.
The 10 question game requires students to identify the statement that is NOT equivalent. I like incorporating not questions because it causes higher order thinking. For this specific game, I would recommend putting students in partners. I’ve found that math talk increases engagement, and I can do a quick assessment of who needs more support.
Enjoy Equivalent Expressions
You may still be thinking that equivalent expressions aren’t the most exciting topic to teach. I don’t want you to feel discouraged because there’s a wide variety of resources out there from other fabulous teachers. I love that so many more educators are sharing what has worked in their classroom. Pick an activity that stuck out to you and see how your students respond. I’m hopeful that you can add a few items to your toolbelt.
