Divide the class into four to five small groups. Each group should have a different number of students in it. Assign each group to represent a different variable. For example, a group that has 2 students in it can represent the variable "a," and a group with 3 students in it can represent the variable "b." Begin writing variable sentences on the board such as "eight added to group b." The students can then work together to write an algebraic expression such as "8 + b." As an extension, students can then write and solve that sentences by creating an algebraic equation such as "8 + b = 11," because there are three students in group b.
Divide the class into small groups and tell them that they are going to create their own businesses to sell an item or service. Students then need to create a unit rate for their business. For example, for bicycle rentals, the unit rate could be $10.00 per hour. Each group should make a sign showing the unit rate of their service or item and place it in front of their group. Students can then roam the room and write algebraic expressions for each business. For example, $10.00 per hour can be written as 10h or 10 X h.
Each student receives a bingo card and playing chips. The bingo card contains algebraic expressions such as 6 - n and d/8. The teacher calls out sentences that represent variable expressions such as "six minus a number." Students need to place a chip over the expression that represents each sentence that is called out by the teacher. The first student to get a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of chips across their bingo card is the winner. This game can either be purchased in learning stores or easily created in a word processor.
Algebraic Expression Memory consists of sets of algebraic expression cards and their corresponding sentence cards. For example, the card labeled c/8 has a corresponding card that wold read "a number split into eight groups." The cards are shuffled and randomly placed face down on the table. Students must turn two cards over at a time to try to match together corresponding cards. When a pair is matched up, the student gets to keep those cards. Students can play in pairs to see who can collect the most cards or by themselves to see how fast they can match all of the cards together.