Activity: Algebraic Charades

A fun, active way to practice translating words into algebra.

How to Play

  1. Prepare a set of cards with simple word problems or expressions (see examples below).
  2. Divide the class into two teams.
  3. One student from a team comes to the front and draws a card.
  4. The student must act out the phrase on the card without speaking. They can use gestures, numbers, and mathematical symbols.
  5. Their team has one minute to guess the correct algebraic expression or equation.
  6. If they guess correctly, they get a point. Then it's the other team's turn.

Example Cards to Create:

  • A number plus five (n + 5)
  • Ten minus a number (10 - n)
  • A number multiplied by three (3n)
  • A number divided by two (n / 2)
  • A number plus four equals ten (n + 4 = 10)
  • Fifteen minus a number is six (15 - n = 6)
  • Two times a number plus one (2n + 1)