Students will be so amazed at the patterns they find in the hundreds chart they will think you are a “mathemagician“. Once hooked, they will use algebra to understand the magic.
A favorite activity of my partner, Brad Fulton, and mine whenever asked to do a workshop for teachers, this chart can be found in primary grades to teach skip counting, multiples, factors, prime numbers, and pattern recognition.
We show you how to incorporate simple arrangements of numbers and transparent chips to arouse the curiosity and imagination of students with number sense that leads naturally to algebraic proofs that all students can see and understand.
Numerically, in the second graphic the sum of the blue chips equals the sum of the violet chips. This arrangement of chips leads to the same sums no matter where this arrangement is placed. This leads algebraically, to a simple proof. If x is allowed to equal the number 2, then x+1 equals 3, x+10 equals 12, and x+11 equals 13. Adding the blue chips and the violet chips results in the same sum of 2x+11. Since this works every time, you have a simple algebra proof. Other proofs are outlined in the activity. You can probably find more after playing with the chart.
The six-page downloadable pdf activity will print well at your site, so you can make Activity Masters and Overhead Transparency Masters for all your classes. Pick up a few transparent colored chips and you have materials for lesson plans any day of the year. Send a comment and let me know how you do with your classes!
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