Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Use simple formulas written in words and letters
Algebra
CCSS 6.EE.A.2.CEngland: Y6 Algebra
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Use simple formulas written in words and letters.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Solve equations with a letter for the unknown
Leads to: Describe linear sequences with a rule for the nth term
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Solve equations with a letter for the unknown). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Find n: 568 + n = 877 → 309Prompt: Use the inverse operation.
- Arjun buys 9 identical T-shirts and pays $117. Write it as 9 × t = 117. What is t, the price of one T-shirt? → 13Prompt: What times 9 makes 117?
- Find n: n − 250 = 245 → 495Prompt: Use the inverse operation.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Use simple formulas written in words and letters. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Bike hire costs C = 5h + 20, where h is the number of hours. What is C when h = 6?
- Step 1: 5 × 6 + 20 = 30 + 20 = 50
- Answer: 50
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Bike hire costs C = 3h + 19, where h is the number of hours. What is C when h = 7? → 40Prompt: 3h means 3 × h.
- The perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2(l + w). Find P when l = 16 and w = 3. → 38Prompt: Work out the bracket first.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- The number of legs on n spiders is L = 8n. How many legs do 4 spiders have? → 32Prompt: 8n means 8 × n.
- The perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2(l + w). Find P when l = 11 and w = 7. → 36Prompt: Work out the bracket first.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Solve equations with a letter for the unknown.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Describe linear sequences with a rule for the nth term.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder