One way students can work on solving equations outside of the classroom is to play an online game. Students are able to play a variety of games in real-time, such as equation memory, where students must match the solution with the problem. Similar games include battleship, in which you attempt to solve one-step equations based on where you think your opponent's battleships are. These games can provide incentive to learn.
Flash cards can help students better memorize terms and learn new things. They can also be used to help students with equations. In this manner, students attempt to solve for various different variables. For example, one group activity to utilize flash cards, according to Education World, is to make 30 game cards. Two cards out of the pile will have the same answer. For instance, there will be two cards marked "A." Each will have different equations which have the same answer. The two students who receive "A" cards will then pair up and attempt to solve their equations.
Teachers may choose to engage students in equation activities in the classroom. One of these activities might be equation bingo. It's like bingo, but with a mathematical twist. To play education bingo, draw out a 5-by-5 square bingo card and number it from 1 to 25. The numbers can be placed in whichever order you desire. Write out math equations on flash cards, where the answers would equal the numerals 1 to 25. When an equation is drawn, students solve, then mark off where the answer falls on their answer sheet. Whoever fills in a line of spaces, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally first wins.
Partner activities are those that can be played with another student. One example is the Amazing Equation Race. It is an interactive, fast-paced game designed to make students feel more at ease with introductory equations. It's played by cutting three sheets of paper into 12 strips and writing simple equations on them. Then cut four sheets of paper into 30 playing cards. On these cards, write different numerals that "x" can be. Also write out cards so that you must add certain numerals and subtract others. Then shuffle the cards into separate piles and play the game, taking an equation card and a card from the other pile. The players then solve each equation by plugging in the cards they draw. The point totals at the end of the game dictate the winner.