Middle School Math Stations or Centers: Early Algebra: Patterns, Expressions, Tables, Graphing, and Equations

Math stations are a great way to get students engaged as they move about the room and work collaboratively with their peers.

But they are a lot of work to prepare!

This ready-to-go set of 5 stations will supplement a unit about early algebra concepts: patterns, expressions, tables, graphing & equations.

Ways to Use: You can break your class into 5 groups and have them rotate one at a time through the centres, giving them 10-20 minutes at each one. Or, start students at certain centres and then allow them to move around at their own pace as long as no one centre gets too full. I find these are a great resource as you are finishing your unit and preparing for the unit test.

Station 1: Word problems (Optional: set out white boards for students to use): These four word problems are about realistic situations involving money, memberships, and patterns. There is also a question that gets students thinking about how to solve equations using very simple numbers.

Station 2: Partner game to practice evaluating expressions. Students play an "input/output machine" game with a partner. They will mentally evaluate simple expressions until their partner can guess which expression they are using from the chart. Then they switch roles.

Station 3: Students create a growing pattern and write an expression to represent it. (Supplies needed: some kind of counters or cubes to make the pattern) I find my students often struggle to figure out the expression for a pattern in a table. One trick I use is to teach them to "Mind the Gap!" Look for the "gap" in the second column of the pattern. In this case it is increasing by 4. Always multiply that number by the variable, therefore 4n. Then see what you have to add or subtract to make it true for all of the inputs (in this case +2).

Station 4: Practice solving one-step equations and graphing simple patterns. Students can use multiple methods to solve the one-step equations. Then they graph the growth of two plants and notice when one grows taller and why.

Station 5: Students explain their thinking about equations in words in response to a journal prompt. Optional extension: online game to practice solving equations in a step-by-step manner.

Grades to Use With:

These stations could work with grades 5-8 or high school special education classes.

Standards:

CCSS5.OA.A.2

CCSS5.OA.B.3

CCSS6.EE.A.2

CCSS6.EE.B.5

CCSS6.EE.B.6

CCSS7.EE.B.4

If you like these stations, check out my other sets:

Integer Stations

Area, Perimeter, and Volume Stations

Factors and Multiples Stations

Decimals and Percent Stations

7 page PDF:

Title Page

5 Stations

Answer Key