Below is a look at how one of our lessons works for students with significant support needs.
Lesson: Solve multi-step equations ~ hands-on practice.
Learning Objectives : Given an equation in a real-world context, solve one-variable multi-step linear equations.
Materials: Manipulatives, Learning Resources coins.
Presentation
- I first model for students as I say the elements in the word problem out loud: “I have 2 apples” – I put two apple counters on the table
- “Ann has 3 apples” – I add 3 more apple counters to those on the table and I write down on a big piece of paper 2a+3a=
- I ask each student to count the apples and tell me how many we have all together.
- Once each student has had a chance to respond, I will say the problem out loud while pointing to each element on the paper, “We have 2 apples + 3 apples, so all together, we have 5 apples.
- I add 5a to our equation. 2a+3a=5a
- I say, “Our 5 apples cost $10 all together.” I write $10=5a under our first equation.
- I say “I’m going to divide my $10 between all of my apples.
- I put one coin under each apple.
- “But, I still have money left over, so I am going to keep dividing.”
- I put another coin under each apple.
- I ask the students to each tell me how many coins there are under each apple.
- Once each student has a chance to respond I say “so, there are 2 coins under each apple. That means that each apple costs $2”
- Under the other two equations I write a=$2
- I say, “We just did a multi-step algebraic equation!”
- I repeat this process again with the students who now have their own set of manipulatives and coins.
Engagement
- Because we have already learned that variables are the letters in an equation and that we use the first letter of the item as our variable, the students know that the a in the written equation is for apple.
- If students are verbal, they will respond verbally. If students are not verbal, they will respond via the numbers page in their AAC devices.
- Some students will independently engage. For students who need prompting, staff will use verbal, then gestural prompting.
- In some cases, staff will use hand-under-hand physical prompting to support students’ responses.
In this lesson, each of my students with significant support needs are able to participate in algebra at the levels of his or her abilities. The hands-on activities keep them engaged and offer concrete examples of the equations and operations.
