1. Getting Started with Early Algebra
algebraFirst and sociality are trademarks or registered trademarks of
(C) sociality mathematics CIC, All Rights Reserved
s225_6.01IaBe021016Template

2. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND
This license is the most restrictive of the six main creative commons licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

3. Free Play In Early Years and beginning of Year 1, to the rods to:
Learn rod names
white (w), red (r), green (g), pink (p), yellow (y), dark green (d), black (b), tan (t), blue (B), orange (o)

4. Adding
Rods placed “end to end”
d = p + r
y + r = b

5. Equivalence
Children in Early Years already verbally using “equivalence” or “equals”
Year 1 writing equations
e.g. w + w + r = p
Commutative
Transformations
Number bonds, after rods are assigned numbers

6. Difference Minus symbol introduced as “difference” B = o – g - r =
Rods placed “side by side”

7. Missing number equations
= symbol in different positions
+ y = t
o = b
y – r =
d = o –
o – y = r +
y = r = p +
This is all done before numbers are introduced

8. Same colour trains “times” or “lots of”
5 x r also written as 5r using algebraic conventions
2y =
3 x p = 2 x
o = 2 x = 10 x

9. Fractions Introduce halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, … tenths
Brackets are introduced
(½ x t) + (½ x r) =
What if different rods = 1?
What if p = 1, what would you call the other rods?
Division linked to x and fractions e.g. 10 ÷ 2 = means what is half of orange rod? Which 2 rods make 10?

10. Other applications
Making numbers using orange (10) and white (1) rods, place value
Finding square numbers e.g. 4² is made from 4 pink rods in a square
Product chart – use to find factors, multiples and common factors
Clock face