Balance Algebra Tiles Addition/Multiplication Equations Google Slides Activity

This Google Slides Activity includes 15 unique slides that involve maintaining the balance on the scale in order to solve for a variable, x.

The students will start first by taking away tiles that represent a value of "1" each on both sides in order to isolate x and solve for its value. They then will be presented with more than one x and will need to find what balances one x in order to solve. Finally, they will be required to remove several "1" tiles and then also remove multiple x tiles in order to find the value of x. With each slide, the students are asked to express the pan balance as an equation, as well. Simple one step addition equations lead to one step multiplication equations, and finally 2-step addition and multiplication equations are included.

The slides are very easy to duplicate if you would like to add more than the 15 that are included. The tiles are manipulative and can be dragged off to the side to isolate x and solve.

I have used this activity in my 6th grade classroom and all abilities of students enjoyed the challenge. There is no prep required other than saving the activity to your Google Drive and assigning it via Google Classroom or providing your students with a link to the activity.