Algebra Teaching Resources
Are you introducing algebra in your 5th and 6th grade math classes this school year? Bring numerical expressions and algebraic thinking to life with the help of engaging printable worksheets, fun algebra games and more teacher-created resources for elementary and middle school math teachers.
The printable and digital teacher resources in this collection are all aligned with the TEKS and Common Core math standards, and they've been designed by the Teach Starter team to be easily edited so you can differentiate instruction easily. Best of all? Each resource has been carefully reviewed by a math teacher on our team to ensure it's ready to add to your algebra lesson plans.
Whether this is your first year teaching algebra or you're just looking for a little extra help to meet all the standards, we've got you covered. Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at algebraic thinking.
What Is Algebraic Thinking and Why Is it So Important?
Ever wondered why we teach algebraic thinking in elementary schools? Or what the term entails?
Long before students actually put pencil to paper to solve the equations that tend to come to mind when people hear the word "algebra," they're building a host of skills that all fall under the broad "algebraic thinking" umbrella.
So what does that look like?
On a high level, algebraic thinking is about identifying and understanding relationships that are not limited to specific numerical values. Kids use algebraic thinking to make sense of patterns and represent the relationships between numbers.
Taking things a step deeper, algebraic thinking activities like learning to identify the missing number in a sequence prep our young math learners to later represent and solve problems that involve unknown quantities and changing relationships.
Like so much of what we do in elementary and middle school, we're laying the foundation for our students to succeed in high school (and beyond).
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Evaluating Expressions – Paper Chain Activity
Use your understanding of the order of operations to evaluate expressions with one or two variables with this paper chain activity.
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Exponential Expressions – Match-Up Activity
Match numerical expressions with exponents to their expanded expressions and solutions with this match-up activity.
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Evaluating Expressions – Task Cards
Use this set of 24 task cards to practice evaluating expressions with a single variable.
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Writing Equations – Task Cards
Practice writing an equation with a variable to represent a situation with this set of 24 task cards.
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Writing Equations – Worksheet
Practice writing equations to represent a situation with this math worksheet designed for 6th-grade students.
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Evaluating Expressions – Worksheet
Challenge your students to evaluate expressions with one or two variables by completing this worksheet.
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One-Step Equations (Addition and Subtraction) – Worksheet
Explore pre-algebra concepts by adding and subtracting whole numbers, decimals, and fractions with this one-step equations worksheet.
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Writing Numerical Expressions – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Write and solve numerical expressions based on descriptions using a letter for the unknown quantity with this interactive activity.
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Greatest Common Factor – Reference Sheet
Recall the steps to find the greatest common factor of a set of numbers with this math reference sheet.
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Greatest Common Factor and the Distributive Property Worksheets
Determine the GCF and use the distributive property to express the sum of two whole numbers as a multiplication equation with a common factor.
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Prime Factorization – Task Cards
Practice how to find the prime factorization of a number with this set of 24 task cards
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Prime Factorization Match-Up
Practice how to find the prime factorization of a number with this match-up activity.
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Greatest Common Factor – Task Cards
Practice how to find the greatest common factor (GCF) with this set of 24 task cards.
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Prism Party! –Volume of Composite Rectangular Prisms – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Practice how to find the volume of composite figures with this interactive activity.
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Greatest Common Factor – Mini Book
Learn different strategies to find the greatest common factor with this mini-book.
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Order Up! Numerical Expressions Worksheet
Solve problems by using order of operations to evaluate numerical expressions.
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Order of Operations – Mini Book
Learn how to solve equations using order of operations with this mini book.
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Order of Operations – Vocabulary Cards
Promote math vocabulary development with this set of 11 order and operations vocabulary cards.
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Number Talks - Geometry Task Cards
Build geometric reasoning with this set of 24 task cards.
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Polygon Puzzle - Exponents
A polygon puzzle involving exponents
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