Introduction to Algebra | Function Machines | Lesson Notes, Slides & Activities

This lesson focuses on exploring how the input and output rules of function machines can help us unlock the logic of algebra - perfect to introduce your students to algebraic thinking through clear explanations, thought-provoking challenges, and engaging activities!

Knowledge and Skills Covered:

Knowledge:

I know that a variable is a letter or symbol used to represent a value that can change or is currently unknown. In this lesson, we focus on the input being that changeable value.

I know that an inverse operation is the opposite action that can be used to isolate a variable and solve an equation. In this lesson, we use inverse to work backward from the output to find the input.

Skills:

I can translate a word problem into a formal algebraic expression or equation. In this lesson, we translate a function machine visual into a written rule.

I can substitute numerical values into a formula to find a solution. In this lesson, we put numbers through the machine to see what happens.

What’s Included?

Your download includes everything you need for a successful lesson:

Unit Overview Notes: Outlines the knowledge, skills, and pre-requisites for the entire unit. This lesson is part of a 6 lesson unit, exploring ‘Can we use symbols and patterns to predict the unknown?’

Detailed Lesson Walkthrough/Notes: Includes a step-by-step guide with guiding questions and key discussion points.

Guiding Questions: Great opportunities for AfL throughout your lesson, designed to help your students draw on their previous learning and make purposeful connections.

Lesson Slides: Engaging slides to guide your lesson.

Lesson Activities: Includes accessible, low-floor high ceiling activities that all students can access through adaptive teaching, leading to improved confidence. There are also opportunities embedded in the lesson for further challenge to extend learners further and outlined strategies to enable learners.

Exit Ticket: A purposeful closing task which allows students to demonstrate their understanding, skills and knowledge - a great opportunity for AfL.

This download provides both the Editable PPT Version and the PDF Version.

Terms of Use: This product should only be used by the teacher who purchased it. This product is not to be shared with other teachers.