More About Algebra

#TheCompleteSeries5lessons

During these lessons children will use, solve and check more complex algebraic equations. They will also find out how to rearrange an equation to find the value of a missing variable. Having learned how to solve equations during the teaching inputs (with slides), your class will then practise using these methods with a range of challenging activities – including algebra word problems.

With detailed lesson plans, helpful slides, activity ideas, differentiated Year 6 algebra worksheets and other resources, this 'Understanding Algebra' scheme of work gives you everything you need to develop your children's understanding of this challenging area of maths!

#Lesson1SolvingAlgebraicEquations

Teach your class all about solving algebraic equations by finding variables and balancing equations. This is the first of five lessons in 'More About Algebra', and it begins by recapping what algebra is and why it is used. Children will then find the value of a variable using simple equations, moving on to rearrange and balance equations to prove their answers. They'll even be challenged to solve some equations with several possible answers.

#Lesson2FindingtheAreaofaTriangle

Teach children how to find the area of a triangle using an algebraic formula, then challenge them to practice finding the area of various triangles. This is the second of five lessons in 'More About Algebra', a complete algebra unit of work for Year 6. It includes differentiated activities and resources to challenge children as they get to grips with finding the area of triangles, including worksheets with triangles presented in a variety of rotations – to make finding the area more challenging.

#Lesson3PythagorasTheorem

Introduce your pupils to Pythagoras' Theorem, and teach them how to use it to find missing lengths of sides of triangles. This is the third of five lessons in 'More About Algebra' for Year 6, and it builds upon your children's emerging knowledge and understanding of algebra.

The included slides clearly explain how Pythagoras' famous theorem works, and how they may use it themselves by finding the square of the two known sides. With the included, differentiated activities and Pythagoras worksheets, your whole class will practise finding missing lengths of right-angled triangles. Some children may even apply what they have learned to help them find the total perimeter of compound shapes which are partly comprised of right-angled triangles.

#Lesson4TheAreaandCircumferenceofaCircle

Teach your class how to find the area and circumference of a circle using algebraic formulae and pi. This lesson planning pack includes colourful and engaging slides, area and circumference of a circle worksheets and a set of activity cards. During this, the fourth of five lessons in the Year 6 'More About Algebra' scheme of work, children will be introduced to pi and the symbol that is used to represent it. They will be encouraged to substitute values into the given formula to find the area or the circumference of a circle. Your class will become more confident about the relationship between the diameter and radius of a circle and use this knowledge when problem solving.

#Lesson5ConvertingFahrenheittoCelsius

Teach children the formula for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius, then practise converting temperatures using either written methods or calculators. In this, the final of five lessons in the 'More About Algebra' scheme of work for Year 6, your class will help a character understand the relationship between Celsius and Fahrenheit by converting temperatures. They will substitute values into a given formula to find out what different USA temperature records are in degrees Celsius. The plenary of this lesson gives your class the opportunity to apply their understanding of algebra when using the Follow Me cards.

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Curriculum Objectives covered

• Year 6 - use simple formulae
• Year 6 - find pairs of numbers that satisfy an equation with two unknowns
• Year 6 - enumerate possibilities of combinations of two variables