In level 2 of Hands-On Algebra, students continue their journey through basic algebraic concepts. 
Lesson 1:  students are introduced to the concept of negative numbers. The idea that one negative x and one positive x is equal to zero is used to set up and solve equations. 
Lessons 2 and 3: students learn that if there is a blue and white pawn on the same side of the equation, they can be removed without affecting the balance, since subtracting zero has no effect. 
Lesson 4:  students are presented with an equation that cannot be solved simply by removing pawns and numbers. They learn to add pawns so that they can isolate X and solve as they have in the past. This is a big leap in mathematical understanding that is made simple and elegant with this program. 
Lesson 5:  We extend the concept from lesson 4, showing that we can also add a zero in the form of a blue and a white pawn in order to solve an equation. 
Lesson 6: Review lessons 1-5 and learn to write equations for solving word problems.  
Lesson 7: Students are introduced to simplifying expressions on both sides of the equal sign in order to make the solution much more evident. At this point, students have learned several ways to set up and solve an algebraic equations, and they learn to use the method that makes the most sense to them in each situation.
Lesson 8:  Students learn that they can add zeroes to either side of the equation in order to simplify. Many students discover this before we get to this lesson, but the new problems in this lesson require the use of this strategy.