Modeling Equations With Clothes Hangers Lesson Plan - 6th Grade Math
Overview
In this lesson, we’ll introduce the concept of modeling equations with clothes hangers for `6`th graders. We use clothes hangers to make connections with equations. These diagrams are helpful for students to see a representation of a relationship between two different quantities. In later concepts and future grade levels, students can use clothes hanger diagrams to develop a strategy for modeling, writing, and solving more complex equations. You can expect this lesson to take one `45`-minute class period.
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Objective
Students will be able to model equations with clothes hangers.
Materials
- Teacher slideshow
- Online Practice
How to Teach Modeling Equations With Clothes Hangers
Notice and wonder
Start the students off by having them complete a notice and wonder warm-up. Display the first slide of the clothes hanger diagram on your board:
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Give students a few minutes to jot down some notice and wonders. Notice and wonders allow students to write down anything they see or may have questions about. Any student is able to do this activity!
Share ideas with the class
After students have finished up, go over the noticings and wonderings by listing what students say on the board. This way all students can see what others have written and can write that down as well.
Now we can discuss some deeper questions. Ask students these questions:
- What will happen if one circle gets taken off of one side?
- Discuss with students that when you take a circle away from one side, the hanger will become unbalanced. Display slide `3`.
- How can we make the clothes hanger balanced again?
- Discuss with students that whatever you do to one side of the clothes hanger, you need to do to the other side. So since we crossed out one circle on the left, we would need to cross out one circle on the right to stay balanced. Display slide `4`.
How do we balance the hanger to have one variable on one side?
Tell students that they can keep crossing off circles until there are only circles on the one side of the hanger. Display slide `5`.
Ask students what one “`x`” is equal to.
- Students should say there are `3` circles left, so one `x` is equal to `3` circles.
Practice more one-step addition hangers
Have students do one more similar example on slide `6`.
Then show the example with the total numbers in squares on slide `7`.
Ask students how we could balance the hanger to have `x` by itself here. Ask students the following questions:
- Crossing off `6` is the same thing as doing what operation?
- Crossing off or taking away is the same thing as subtracting. Taking `6` away from `6` will leave us with `0`, and taking `6` away from `18` will leave us with `12`.
This example will prepare students for writing and solving one-step addition equations.
Multiplication Hanger Diagrams
Show a hanger diagram that represents a one-step multiplication equation. Display slide `8`.
Ask students if you can take off an `x` from both sides? Why? Why not? Then ask students if they can take a number from both sides of the hanger? Why? Why not? Some students may think you can. Explain why this does not work.
- When balancing a hanger, we have to take the same thing from both sides. In this example, there are no common circles or squares.
How do we solve for what one `x` is?
Display slide `9` for students to see. Tell students that we are going to find what one `x` is equal to.
Tell students that since there are three `x`’s, they will make three equal groups. Ask students how many squares are equal to one circle.
Practice more one-step multiplication hangers
There are two more examples on slides `10` and `11` for you to do as a class.
How to express the hanger as an equation
Work together to express the clothes hanger as an equation. Display slide `12` for students to see.
Show students how both sides of the hanger can be expressed. Practice expressing the clothes hanger as an equation with the next two examples on slides `13` and `14`.
How to solve a one-step addition equation using a hanger diagram
Look at one of the addition equations we already worked on and do the same things to the expression that you did to the hanger. Display slide `15`.
We crossed off two circles from both sides. Ask students what operation this represents. Students should say subtraction. Remind students that taking away, or crossing off is the same thing as subtracting or finding the difference.
Summarize solving one-step addition equations
Ask students what to do to find the value of `x` when there are addition equations.
- We want to subtract the amount from both sides of the equal sign.
Display slide `16` to show how to solve.
Subtracting `2` from both sides gives us `x = 3`. When we crossed off two circles from both sides, we also had three circles left over.
How to solve a one-step multiplication equation using a hanger diagram
Look at one of the multiplication equations we already worked on and do the same things to the expression that you did to the hanger. Display slide `17`.
We grouped together a circle with two squares. Ask students what operation this represents. Students should say division. Remind students that by making equal groups, we are dividing.
Summarize solving one-step multiplication equations
Ask students what to do to find the value of `x` when there are multiplication equations.
- We want to divide the amount from both sides of the equal sign.
Display slide `18` to show how to solve.
Using the strategy of modeling equations with clothes hangers allows students to visualize what is on both sides of the equal side. Students will then be able to solve equations using the clothes hanger.
Modeling Equations With Clothes Hangers Practice
After you’ve completed the examples with the whole class, it’s time for some independent practice! ByteLearn gives you access to tons of modeling equations with clothes hangers activities. Check out the online practice and assign to your students for classwork and/or homework!
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