This lesson introduces students to representing algebraic expressions with algebra tiles. 

1. Students learn the various names for the tiles.
2. Students represent various expressions with tiles.
3. Students represent expressions and then collect (add) the tiles together.
4. Students represent expressions and then subtract the second expression from the first expression.
5. Students represent expressions as the dimension of a rectangle and then find the area of the rectangle to multiply the two expressions together.
6. Students represent expressions as the dimension of a rectangle with positive and negative terms and then find the area of the rectangle to multiply the two expressions together.
7. Students are given several factors to multiply together.

Lesson

Materials:

Student Activity Sheet

Student template for tiles (2 - 5 x 7 templates of algebra tiles)  Run on copy on two different colors to represent positive and negative tiles.

Student template for tiles (2 - 4 x 5 templates of algebra tiles)  Run on copy on two different colors to represent positive and negative tiles

Single sheet of tiles