Posted on March 8, 2018
Algebra Tiles Can Be Fun!
This unit in math we learned about expanding and factoring expressions using algebra tiles. A lot of this unit was review from past years but we did learn some new skills too. We started off with an algebra review to help remind us of the skill. We then did a lot of lessons with notes to learn the new skills. We learned about monomials, binomials, and polynomials. We learned how to expand and factor them, and we learned about how they make perfect squares. We then spent some time practicing the skills we learned. Finally it was time to start the project.
For the project we got partnered up and my partner was my friend Kate. The project was to create a game that involves expanding, factoring, and perfect squares. It could be any game from a board game, to a card game, to completely random game. We made our first draft of the game rules just with expanding. We started off with a card game but as we learnt the new skills to add we had to change our rules and we ended up deciding to change it to a board game. Once we had our final draft of the game rules done we started to make it.
We started off with making the cards for our game. We then made the algebra tiles and the board then we were done. The last thing we had to do was come up with a name. This is our game Journey to the Perfect Square.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tcaggHHwBIU
I really enjoyed this project because it was a really fun way to do a normally boring and time consuming unit. I was surprised that we were able to make algebra tiles fun. I do feel like this project might have taken up too much time considering this was a small unit that was mostly review. I hope next time we learn more new skills and can make them fun too.