Algebraic Thinking In Elementary School - Patterns

Years ago when I did my student teaching, the local schools were introducing a type of math that focused on introducing algebraic thinking to students in elementary.  Recently, I've seen more and more problems which encourage algebraic thinking using Star Wars characters, emoji's, and other fun characters.

The idea is for a child to look at the first line and determine the value from it before subbing that value into the second line to find the second variable and then into the third line for the third variable.

Its all algebra done with pictures instead of the usual variables.  I find them fun and I think they are a great way to introduce algebraic thought to all children.  The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics believe it is good to begin teaching algebraically  to children in kindergarten.  An important over all concept is making connections among ideas such as patterns, classification, functions, expressions, equality, variables, relationships, and proportional reasoning.

The question arises of where to begin.  There are places to begin, even in kindergarten, teaching children algebraic thought. For instance, it is possible to introduce the idea of finding patterns to young one.  The patterns do not have to be mathematical in the sense we think of patterns but it could be just finding patterns in their clothing, or in the tiles on the floor or the pattern in the carpet.  If you expect the children to verbalize the pattern they see and then draw it, you've taken the first steps towards becoming mathematically literate.

Another activity is to hand students manipulative of some sort and have them create two different patterns out of them.  When everyone has finished the assignment, allow students to wander around the room, checking out everyone else's patterns.  Instead of a gallery walk, you have a pattern walk.

Then the teacher could pass out blank paper and crayons to each child.  In struct students to create a repeating pattern of 5 items using shapes such as circles, or squares.  At the end, have students divide into pairs, exchange papers, and each student will try to figure out the next item in the pattern.

The above ideas work with younger children but for the older ones in say third or above, you could try introducing them to a game where you give three clues to the value of X and then they guess the value of X.  The clues might be X + 6 = 8, X + 0 = 2, and X + 2 = 4.  What does X equal?

When giving students equations, change your wording. Rather than reading  4 + 2 = 6 as 4 plus 2 equals 6 or 4 plus two makes an answer of six, try four added to two is the same as six.  Vary your vocabulary so they do get the idea that the "=" sign allows one side to have the same answer as the other side so when you write 6 + 2 = 4 x 2.

These are just a few ways to introduce algebraic thinking in elementary classes so students doe not find it so hard to transfer knowledge when they begin algebra.  Let. me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.