Comments on: Algebra Balance Scales

By: Retta Salerno

Retta Salerno — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:53:20 +0000

I had the opportunity to work with this website. I first used a class activity called “Hands On Equation.” It is where each student is given a scale and they need to balance both sides of an equation. After the class activiy for review before a quiz I gave the students the chance to work with this. It was very successful for all. Would recommend for students at both the middle school, and high school levels.

By: josh g.

josh g. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:36:21 +0000

I saw this over the summer and had mixed feelings. I’ve been wondering if a good digital algebra manipulative would be useful; I’ve also wanted to use the balance scale metaphor for intro algebra. But, I don’t know if I like how this came together. It gets partway to what I had in mind for an ideal digital algebra manipulative, but it’s a little too clunky to feel natural. And the balance scale concept feels weaker in a virtual version than a physical scale would be.

With Math 9 coming up this term, I may still give this a try, but I think I’d rather borrow an old-school balance scale from the science lab supplies.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:05:55 +0000

I like Weigh the Wangdoodles, here: http://www.mathplayground.com/wangdoodles.html

And off-line, there’s Hands-On Equations. Not a game, but an early algebra learning system.