Apples, Oranges, and Bananas
equations · Combining like terms using concrete categories
This activity is designed to get students to understand why they can only combine terms that are like terms.
Apples, Oranges, and Bananas is a Grade 6 whole-class activity that uses fruit categories to make the idea of like terms concrete. Students group themselves by fruit, write different expressions for the amount in each group, and compare what can and cannot be combined. The familiar categories give a physical model for why terms representing different variables remain separate.
Use it when students are beginning to simplify algebraic expressions and need a bridge from concrete objects to symbols. Ask them to translate an “apples and oranges” expression into variables once the grouping idea is secure. Create a free Find a Math Game account to generate teacher-ready lesson support for Apples, Oranges, and Bananas. No credit card. 3 lesson generations for life.
- Grades:
- 6
- Materials:
- cards
- Classroom use:
- whole class
Standards alignment
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