6th Grade Math Lesson

Ticket to the Show: Writing and Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

Shared by A STEM Educator

6th Grade3-Act Math45 min

Learning Objective

Students will write algebraic expressions to represent total event ticket costs with processing fees and group discounts, evaluate those expressions by substituting given values, and recognize that different-looking expressions can be equivalent.

Lesson Overview

Students use a real-world concert/event ticket purchasing scenario to write, evaluate, and compare algebraic expressions involving total cost with processing fees and group discounts.

Materials

Whiteboard and markers
Paper and pencils
Basic calculator or phone calculator

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

Look at the blurred ticket checkout screen. Without any numbers, write in words what quantities would affect the total cost of buying tickets for a group. List at least three things.

2Task 2

Estimate the total cost for a group of 6 people buying tickets to this festival. Record: a number that is definitely too low, a number that is definitely too high, and your best guess. Explain your reasoning.

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