Algebra Teaching Resources
Are you introducing algebra in your 5th and 6th grade math classes this school year? Bring numerical expressions and algebraic thinking to life with the help of engaging printable worksheets, fun algebra games and more teacher-created resources for elementary and middle school math teachers.
The printable and digital teacher resources in this collection are all aligned with the TEKS and Common Core math standards, and they've been designed by the Teach Starter team to be easily edited so you can differentiate instruction easily. Best of all? Each resource has been carefully reviewed by a math teacher on our team to ensure it's ready to add to your algebra lesson plans.
Whether this is your first year teaching algebra or you're just looking for a little extra help to meet all the standards, we've got you covered. Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at algebraic thinking.
What Is Algebraic Thinking and Why Is it So Important?
Ever wondered why we teach algebraic thinking in elementary schools? Or what the term entails?
Long before students actually put pencil to paper to solve the equations that tend to come to mind when people hear the word "algebra," they're building a host of skills that all fall under the broad "algebraic thinking" umbrella.
So what does that look like?
On a high level, algebraic thinking is about identifying and understanding relationships that are not limited to specific numerical values. Kids use algebraic thinking to make sense of patterns and represent the relationships between numbers.
Taking things a step deeper, algebraic thinking activities like learning to identify the missing number in a sequence prep our young math learners to later represent and solve problems that involve unknown quantities and changing relationships.
Like so much of what we do in elementary and middle school, we're laying the foundation for our students to succeed in high school (and beyond).
- Free Plan
Roll It! Operations Game
Use this fun game to practice all four operations and/or order of operations.
- Plus Plan
The Escape From Millbrook Manor – Halloween Escape Room
Practice computation skills by solving puzzles with this differentiated Halloween escape room game.
- Free Plan
Algebraic Expressions & Equations – Worksheet
Write algebraic expressions and equations for 6 different word problems with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Evaluating Expressions – Paper Chain Activity
Use your understanding of the order of operations to evaluate expressions with one or two variables with this paper chain activity.
- Plus Plan
Writing Numerical Expressions – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Write and solve numerical expressions based on descriptions using a letter for the unknown quantity with this interactive activity.
- Free Plan
Number Talks - Geometry Task Cards
Build geometric reasoning with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Evaluate Expressions (One Variable) – Mystery Picture Worksheet
Substitute values for variables and use your understanding of the order of operations to solve expressions with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Algebraic Expressions – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Practice writing, reading, and solving algebraic expressions with this set of interactive activities.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Integers - Codebreaker Worksheets
Crack the positive and negative number code with four adding and subtracting integers worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Emoji Equation Riddles - Determine the Unknown
Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills with printable Emoji Math Riddle task cards.
- Plus Plan
Writing Equations – Interactive Mystery Picture Reveal
Practice representing written statements as a single-variable equation with this self-checking interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
One-Step Equations (Addition & Subtraction) – Interactive Task Cards
Practice solving one-step equations by adding and subtracting whole numbers, decimals and fractions.
- Plus Plan
Writing Equations – I Have, Who Has? Game
Practice identifying word sentences for different equations with an exciting I Have, Who Has game.
- Plus Plan
One-Step Equations (Addition and Subtraction) – Board Game
Use addition and subtraction skills to solve one-step equations with a fun board game.
- Plus Plan
Evaluating Expressions – Match-Up Activity
Practice substituting values for variables while evaluating expressions with this match-up activity designed for 6th-grade students.
- Plus Plan
Writing Equations – Match Up Activity
Practice matching word sentences to equations with variables with this 36-card match-up activity.
- Plus Plan
Evaluating Expressions – Task Cards
Use this set of 24 task cards to practice evaluating expressions with a single variable.
- Plus Plan
Writing Equations – Task Cards
Practice writing an equation with a variable to represent a situation with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
One-Step Equations (Addition and Subtraction) – Math Mazes
Practice solving one-step equations with whole numbers, decimals, and mixed numbers while working through a set of 3 math mazes.
- Plus Plan
Writing Equations – Worksheet
Practice writing equations to represent a situation with this math worksheet designed for 6th-grade students.
- Plus Plan
5th Grade Math Review – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Review important 5th-grade math standards with a student-led interactive activity that covers 12 different mathematical concepts.
- Plus Plan
One-Step Equations (Addition and Subtraction) – Task Cards
Add and subtract whole numbers, decimals, and fractions to solve one-step equations with a single variable with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
5th Grade Math Review – Test Prep Packet
Encourage your students to work through 8 pages of 5th-grade math problems while charting their progress to measure their success.
- Plus Plan
Evaluating Expressions – Worksheet
Challenge your students to evaluate expressions with one or two variables by completing this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Algebraic Expressions – Task Cards
Read, write, and solve algebraic expressions with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Understanding Exponents – Task Cards
Practice rewriting, comparing, and evaluating expressions with exponents with this set of task cards.
- Plus Plan
One-Step Equations (Addition and Subtraction) – Worksheet
Explore pre-algebra concepts by adding and subtracting whole numbers, decimals, and fractions with this one-step equations worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Distributive Property Match-Up
Use your understanding of the greatest common factor and the distributive property to match equivalent expressions.
- Plus Plan
Greatest Common Factor – Reference Sheet
Recall the steps to find the greatest common factor of a set of numbers with this math reference sheet.
- Plus Plan
Greatest Common Factor and the Distributive Property Worksheets
Determine the GCF and use the distributive property to express the sum of two whole numbers as a multiplication equation with a common factor.
- Plus Plan
Prime Factorization – Task Cards
Practice how to find the prime factorization of a number with this set of 24 task cards
- Plus Plan
Prime Factorization Match-Up
Practice how to find the prime factorization of a number with this match-up activity.