Nicole Cecil Algebra In the Elementary Grades

Nicole Cecil Literature Review

Title:  Algebra in the Elementary Grades?  Absolutely!

Author:  Marilyn Burns

Source: mathsolutions.com/documents/2002_Algebra_Instructor.pdf

Summary:

Lesson:

She begins by having students in 2^nd grade build a growing pattern using trees and pattern blocks.  After the pattern had been established they made a t-chart to help them see if they could find the pattern for future trees.  Pattern blocks were still available for those that needed to visually build the trees.  Then they worked on finding a rule for the pattern.  They decided the rule was the number of years the tree was plus the number of years the tree plus one.

Article:

1.       Developing algebraic thinking in elementary is critical.

2.      Algebraic thinking is second in importance after numbers and operations.

3.      The following algebraic thinking concepts are important in elementary;  patterns, equivalence, variables, and graphing

4.      To extend this for older students, represent the growing pattern with algebraic symbols (^ = O + O + 1, ^ = 2 x O + 1, y = x + x + 1, y = 2x + 1)

5.      Give students blank pieces of paper rather than prepared organizers to help them learn the importance of organizing their work.  This will help them focus on the problem, not just fill in answers.

Analysis: 

While the lesson in this article was geared more toward lower grades, I can see correlations into my 4^th grade classroom.  As I was reading the lesson and reasoning behind it, I was thinking of all the way I could be using algebra in my classroom.  I like the growing pattern idea.  I also thought of all the times that I give them a problem and ask them to find the answer.  How easy is it to turn that problem into an algebra problem by giving them the answer and one of the pieces and asking them to solve for the variable.  In very simple and easy ways we can build algebraic thinking skills into our curriculum.