Lesson 4 - Doodles Do Algebra (TM) - Using 'x' as a placeholder

Does the idea of figuring out when two trains meet that are traveling towards each other at different speeds?

This lesson will teach your child how to figure it out easily, in their head!

This fourth worksheet in the Doodles Do Algebra (TM) curriculum is part of a set of lessons which start a child out with a series of mental math exercises. Before kids learns about unknowns and how to simplify polynomials, it is really helpful to give them familiarity and confidence “mentally” solving problems that usually are taught as algebra problems with written steps.

A way to make math actually fun!

I discovered, after fielding years and years of repeated forms of the “why do I have to know how to do this?” questions, that children just take to algebra straight away when I took them through a number of mental math problems first. It was also quite surprising how easily they (and I) could do the problems without pencil and paper.

Anyone can teach their children Algebra!

The Doodles Do Algebra(TM) series of lessons is designed for minimal teacher involvement, but the methodology for teaching each lesson is clearly explained. I also add different ways of thinking about and explaining the lessons so that whether your child is gifted, or dyslexic, or prefers nearly any learning style, you will have a toolset to draw from as you teach. Most everything the child needs to learn comes from the Doodle cartoon that explains the lesson of the day.

I wrote the entire series of Algebra lessons to teach my own children Algebra I and Algebra II, but the individual worksheets are wonderful for reinforcing concepts you are teaching with an alternate curricula.

Got a creative-minded child? My kids like to color in the Doodle Cartoon character each day and give them hats and crazy facial expressions. It is a fantastic way to etch the algebra concept of the day into their memory.