What goes where?
This is a level 2 algebra strand activity from the Figure It Out series. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers' notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Use <, >, and = symbols in equations.
What goes where?
Achievement objectives
NA2-6: Communicate and interpret simple additive strategies using words, diagrams (pictures), and symbols.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Levels 2–3, Algebra, "What goes where?", page 26
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- What goes where activity (.pdf)
Activity
Some students may find the examples of inequalities in this activity difficult, and they will need prior experience with simpler inequalities, for example, 10 ? 4 + 7. Physical models, such as number balances and towers of connecting cubes, can help develop the students’ understanding.
These models still apply when each side of an inequality contains an operation, for example, 4 x 3 ? 5 x 2.
Students need to have the ability to process operations as mental ideas and understand the equals sign in order to cope with inequalities. For example, the student who has 4 + 7 = 11 as an idea in their mind without having to calculate it with equipment or mentally is much better prepared to solve the inequality 13 ? 4 + 7. The ability to process inequalities mentally is the aim of these activities; manipulation of equipment is a means towards that end.
This activity involves the students being able to interpret a flow chart for grouping children for swimming lessons. Students could be “walked through” how the flow chart works, using the example of actual students from their class. As an extension, students may like to create a flow chart about sorting a set of attribute blocks into triangles, squares, hexagons, and circles.
Activity 1
1.
a. =
b. <
c. 7 or higher
d. >
e. <
f. 1 or 0
g. >
h. 4 or more
2.
Answers will vary. They could include:
- I worked out the numbers on each side of the symbol and then decided which symbol (<, >, or =) to use.
3.
Answers will vary.
Activity 2
1.
Tama belongs to Sharks.
2.
Va‘e belongs to Dolphins.
3.
Jesse belongs to Sea horses.
4.
Rama belongs to Sharks.
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