standard_description: Identify when two expressions are equivalent (i.e., when the two expressions name the same number regardless of which value is substituted into them). For example, the expressions y + y + y and 3y are equivalent because they name the same number regardless of which number y stands for.
problem_activity: Task
Materials
Number cards labeled 1-10 (attached as a PDF)
[IMG]
Actions
Begin by playing the game as a whole class to demonstrate the rules and for students to illustrate the range of possible strategies.
Have a student pick 5 number cards from the cards labeled 1 through 10. Then, have another student pick a “Target Number” between 10 through 20.  Students must add and/or subtract 2 or more of the 5 number cards to arrive at the “target” number.
As students present the different number combinations for the “target” number, write their expressions on the board and have them explain how they were able to mentally come up with the solution.
As students explain their reasoning, name the strategies they used. For example, look for students making fives (e.g. 6 + 8 = 5 + 1 + 5 +3= 10 + 4 = 14) and tens (9 + 8 = 10 + 7), and using known facts (e.g. 8 + 8 is 16 so 8 + 7 is one less than 16) to encourage flexible thinking about the relationship among the facts.
When students understand how the game works, they can play in pairs, checking each other's solutions.


aligns: no