X がスポットをマークします! 実践的な代数脱出ゲーム

***Pre-requisite Skills Note: Students should already know how to solve equations involving combining like terms and using the Distributive Property to participate in this class.  An example of an equation students should be able to solve is 2(5 + x) = 3(1 + x).  If your child has completed Hands-On Algebra Level A or Hands-On Equations Level 1, those skills were taught in those lessons.***

In X Marks the Spot!, learners will use their equation-solving skills and teamwork to discover clues and solve a riddle that will reveal the location of buried treasure!  And they may learn a thing or two about pirates along the way... AAARGH!

The scenario is this...
You have discovered a treasure map in your grandmother's attic!  It looks really old and really authentic.  You know from reading about pirates that X marks the spot where their treasure is hidden, but this treasure map as a million Xs!  Okay, maybe not a million, but definitely more than one.  How are you supposed to find the treasure if you're not sure which X is the right X?  Maybe, just maybe you'll be able to study the map and figure out what's going on... and where to dig.

Learners will need to find equations hidden in a Google Slides presentation (so they need to be logged into Google Chrome for everything to function properly) and solve them to find clues that will help them answer the riddle about where the treasure is buried.  

During class, all learners will be oriented to the task, open the presentation, and then be split into teams of no more than 4 to work in breakout rooms.  This will allow learners to contribute more meaningfully than working individually or in a large group.  I will be going from room to room to check on learners' progress and answer any questions they may have.

In order to be successful, learners should already know how to:
-solve for x
-combine like terms to solve equations
-use Distributive Property
-check their work for accuracy by substituting the value of x back into the original equation

Learners should be prepared for class by gathering any materials they use to solve equations (Hands-On Algebra materials: 8 identical objects, 15 pennies, 5 nickels, 5 dimes; or Hands-On Equations kit) and printing the Code Sheet (available upon enrollment).

***Note: Class is listed as 60 minutes long but depending on how long it takes teams to work through the equations, it could take anywhere from 50-75 minutes.