Vision Quest: Seeing and Understanding Linear Patterns

Part one of the algebra trilogy has students battling through the underground world of darkness, where they will explore and review concepts connected to linear and nonlinear visual patterns. The understanding of key linear features visually and making connections to and between different representations will be front and centre. Students will also use visual patterns as a springboard to dig into algebraic manipulation and solve equations. As students battle through the quest, they are introduced to various visual/concrete models that are useful when solving problems.

Train to be an AR (Algebraic Reasoning) Hacker

This follow-up to Vision Quest builds on the concepts developed in Part 1 by providing students with opportunities to explore and review concepts connected to linear and nonlinear situations and real-life contexts. As students work their way through their AR training, the focus is on finding ways to make explicit connections between representations to analyze their usefulness in solving problems. With the help of Captain Struggle, students will become professional hackers and extend their understanding of algebraic manipulation, working towards solving equations by connecting processes to contexts.

AAA Task Force: Attacking Abstract Algebra

Now that students have entered the darkness of algebra, it is time to assemble the AAA task force and attack that algebra head-on! As students battle it out in the dark world, they will have opportunities to explore and review concepts connected to abstract representations and models of linear and nonlinear relationships. As part of the AAA task force, students will have to draw on their understanding of concepts and focus on building their flexibility with models. This range of skills will help them solve problems related to finding equations of lines, solving linear equations, manipulating expressions, and manipulating/modelling different relations. If the AAA task force makes advancements into the darkness of algebra, students may also explore concepts related to linear inequalities and transformations.

Why is this topic important for my child to learn?

  • So children can…
    • Recognize the difference between linear and non-linear relations 
    • use visual patterns as a springboard to dig into algebraic manipulation and solve equations
    • Strengthen their algebraic reasoning skills
    • Solve equations by connecting processes to contexts
    • explore and review concepts connected to almost completely abstract representations and models of linear and nonlinear relationships
    • Use algebra to solve authentic (or real-world problems)
    • Further develop their multiplicative thinking and proportional reasoning