Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to apply algebraic thinking to solve mathematical problems using Lego bricks.

Materials and Prep

• Lego bricks
• Paper and pencil

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Activity 1: Lego Patterns

   Create a pattern using Lego bricks and write down the pattern using algebraic notation. For example, if you have a pattern of red, blue, red, blue, you can write it as A, B, A, B. Try to create different patterns and write their algebraic notations.

2. Activity 2: Missing Bricks

   Build a structure using Lego bricks and remove some of the bricks. Write down the number of bricks that are missing using a variable. For example, if you have a structure with 10 bricks and 3 are missing, you can write it as 10 - x = 7. Try different combinations and solve the equations to find the value of x.

3. Activity 3: Lego Equations

   Create simple equations using Lego bricks. For example, if you have 5 red bricks and 3 blue bricks, write an equation to represent the total number of bricks. You can write it as R + B = 8. Solve the equations to find the values of the variables.

Fourth Grade Talking Points

• "Algebra is a branch of mathematics that uses letters or symbols to represent numbers and relationships between them."
• "In algebra, we use patterns to find rules and solve problems."
• "Variables are letters or symbols that can represent unknown values in equations."
• "Equations are mathematical sentences that show that two expressions are equal."
• "By using algebraic thinking, we can solve problems and find missing information."