Mathematical goals

This lesson unit is intended to help you assess how well students are able to:

• Understand the properties of number operations.
• Substitute integers, fractions, decimals, and negative numbers into inequality statements in order to test their validity.
• Represent inequalities algebraically and in words.

Introduction

This lesson unit is structured in the following way:

• Before the lesson, students work individually on an assessment task designed to reveal their current understanding and difficulties. You then review their responses and create questions for students to consider when improving their work.
• After a whole-class introduction, students work in small groups on a collaborative task, describing inequalities algebraically and in words.
• In the same small groups, students match descriptions of when the statements are true to their completed cards.
• To end the lesson there is a whole-class discussion.
• In a follow-up lesson, students work alone again on a similar task to the introductory task.

Materials required

• Each student will need a copy of the two assessment tasks: Number Operations: Inequalities and Number Operations (revisited), a mini-whiteboard, a pen, and an eraser.
• Each small group of students will need Card Set A: Statements, Card Set B: When is the statement true? (both sets cut-up), a large sheet of paper, felt-tipped pens, and a glue stick.
• There is a projector resource to support whole-class discussions.

Time needed

15 minutes before the lesson, a 100-minute lesson (or two 60-minute lessons), and 15 minutes in a follow-up lesson. Timings are approximate. Exact timings will depend on the needs of the class.