Lesson focuses on creating equivalent expressions. Isolating the variable.
Focus Questions:
What value of the variable will create two equivalent expressions? How can this solution be checked?How can inverse operations be used to isolate the variable?What operation(s) will be needed to isolate the variable?
Lesson Segment 1: Accessing Background knowledge, Launch-Finding Equivalent Expressions.
Lesson segment 2: What value of the variable will create two equivalent expressions? How can this solution be checked?
Lesson Segment 3: How can inverse operations be used to isolate the variable?
Lesson Segment 4: Summarize
Assessment Plan:observation, questioning, performance

This is a modification of the Helping With Math lesson, Addition with "Cuisenaire Sandwiches", https://www.helpingwithmath.com/printables/worksheets/addition-subtraction/1oa6-addition-subtraction07.htm. This lesson was used with a tier 3 fourth grade intervention math group to help students understand the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction. I modified it to meet the students' needs by having students find partners of numbers up to 20 and had them write the related subtraction equations instead of just the addition equations. Students also modeled the subtraction with the Cuisenaire Rods.

Students use a simple seesaw to visualize solving a two- or three-step mathematics equation, while solving a basic structural engineering weight balance problem in the process. They solve two-step equations on a worksheet and attempt to solve the challenge of "balancing a beam" through hands-on problems. The use of sensor equipment for correct position monitoring aids students in balancing the structure, as well as balancing the equation as they solve it on paper.