Set Up Shop with Algebra
Hands-on activity to demonstrate concrete and abstract representations in problem solving using the everyday activity of grocery shopping.
Students replace a concrete object such as apple with the variable "a," tomato with "t," etc. As a group or individual activity, the students use a shopping list to write variable expressions with item cost. The students then solve for the total cost of the shopping list. The use of real items is suggested but may be adapted by using local grocery sale papers. Good introduction to variables or as a remediation for exceptional learners.
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