Balance Scale Equations Worksheet

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Need an easy and visual activity for your early algebra unit in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade math class? These simple balance scale worksheets model one and two step equations and show students why the golden rule in algebra works. They are a great addition to any early algebra unit in middle school as they show students the basic concepts of solving equations in a visual way which is accessible to lots of different learners in your class!

Teacher instructions:

- Students can physically cross cubes off on their worksheets on each side of a equation to make it balance.

- Or you can pass out bags with cubes to model each equation in a hands-on way.

Grades to Use With:

This activity works well in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade math classes when introducing early concepts of algebra: one-step equations and simple two-step equations and why we use the opposite operation. These worksheets could also be used in high school special education classes to make algebra more accessible for your students.

What's Included: 5-Page PDF: Ready to Print and Use:

Teacher Instructions
3 Student Worksheets with Balance Scales (representing one-step and two-step equations).
Complete Answer Key

Standards:

This lesson helps address Expressions and Equations Common Core Standards in Grade 6 and 7.

Grade 6 B.5

Solve equations with substitution and understand that solving an equation is finding which values make it true.

Grade 6 B.7

Solve simple one-step equations.

Grade 7 B.4

Use variables in simple equations

Grade 7 B.4a

Solve two-step equations fluently.

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In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Solve one-step equations such as 6 = 2 + n by performing the same operation on both sides of the scale.
Translate a real-world scenario (cubes split into bags, cubes left over) into an algebraic equation and solve it.
Construct an original one-step or two-step equation using the balance-scale model.

Teaching tips

Print a three-page worksheet for each student before the lesson.
Use the printed answer key to check the algebraic steps after the hands-on balance-scale demonstration.
Use the answer key only with the five-page edition. The separate three-page edition gives Kyla 16 cubes, leading to n=6, while the keyed edition gives 28 cubes and n=12.

Skills covered

One-step equation solving — students isolate a variable in equations like 6 = 2 + n by removing matching cubes from both sides of the balance scale.
Two-step equation solving — students apply two inverse operations in sequence to equations such as 3n + 2 = 14.
Visual-to-symbolic translation — students convert a balance-scale drawing of cubes into a written equation and a numeric solution.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

Do the two word problems use the same balance-scale format as the earlier equations?

Yes — problems 7 and 8 have students sketch cubes on the scale for Max's and Kyla's scenarios, then write and solve the same style of one-step and two-step equation used in problems 1 through 6.

What does the ninth problem ask students to do?

Problem 9 asks students to draw their own balance-scale scenario, then write and solve an original equation, extending the modelled practice into independent equation writing.

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Curriculum

Standards, concepts & topics

Standards

6.EE.B.7 — Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving equations of the form x + p = q and px = q for cases in which p, q and x are all nonnegative rational numbers

Core concepts

Equality/balance property
Inverse operations
One-step equations
Two-step equations

Topics

Balance scale equations One step equations Two step equations Visual algebra

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Categories this resource belongs to

7th Grade Math Worksheets 6th Grade Math Worksheets Algebra Worksheets Math Worksheets Popular Math Worksheets 6th Grade Worksheets

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