Overview - HANDS-ON ALGEBRA
Product Type: Book
Author: Frances McBroom Thompson
Number of Pages: 622 pages
Reading Level: Grades 7-12
Age Appropriate Level: Grades 7-12
Reproducible: Yes, worksheets
Copyright: 1998
A vast assortment of ready-to-use games and activities make Hands-On Algebra! an invaluable resource for teachers of Grades 7-12 looking to make algebra more meaningful and fun. The 159 reproducible games and lessons teach all of the major concepts covered in first-year algebra recommended by the NCTM. Business and industry are requiring more employees to have a better understanding of mathematics than ever before, in particular a greater knowledge of algebra. Teaching techniques once used only for college-bound students must now be adjusted to better serve students of all ability levels.
Hand-On Algebra! was designed to help teachers of algebra meet the needs of this increasing population of students. The book covers content and contains materials sufficient for a two-semester course in Algebra I. It is appropriate for students of varying abilities: Students with dyslexia or with decoding or other processing difficulties find instruction with manipulatives beneficial. Gifted students delve more deeply into mathematical ideals.
Using a unique three-step approach-concrete to pictorial to abstract-students gain mastery over important algebra concepts and skills one activity at a time.
Each objective is presented in the following sequence:
Activity 1 offers physical models in the development of the concept, with easy-to-follow instructions to help learners seek patterns. It is at this concrete level that most students discover the special relationships being developed.
Activity 2 uses pictorial models such as diagrams, tables, and graphs to help students bridge from the concrete to the abstract level of thinking, and to retain and test what they have learned.
Activity 3 encourages exploration and application of newly learned concepts and skills through cooperative games, puzzles, problems, and graphic calculator or computer activities.
Each activity has complete teacher directions, materials needed, and helpful examples for discussion, homework, and quizzes. The activities provide numerous opportunities for students to describe their procedures and results both orally and in written form. Most of them include timesaving reproducible worksheets or game pieces. The book is printed in a big 8.25- by 11-inch lay-flat binding for easy photocopying.
The book is divided into the following five sections:
-Real Numbers, Their Operations, and Their Properties (11 objectives)
-Linear Forms (8 objectives)
-Linear Applications and Graphing (12 objectives)
-Quadratic Concepts (12 objectives)
-Special Applications (9 objectives)
A few examples of activities include:
-Array Build-Up (multiplication)
-Splitting Things Apart (applying distributive property)
-Make-and-Replace (evaluating algebraic expressions)
-A Whole in One! (linear equations involving fractions)
-Mix It Up! (ratio and proportioning)
-Factor Draw (factoring second-degree polynomials)
-Sliding Curves (exploring quadratic functions)
-Great Divide (transforming linear inequalities
-Which Sum Works? (Pythagorean theorem)
-Growth Patterns (exponential functions)
Special Features
The Appendix contains an assortment of four tile patterns that can be easily photocopied for student use in completing the games and activities located throughout the book.
About the Author
Frances McBroom Thompson has taught mathematics at the junior and senior high school levels, and has served as a K-12 mathematics specialist. She holds a B.S. in mathematics education from Abilene Christian University in Texas, a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin, and a doctoral degree in mathematics education from the University of Georgia in Athens.