Activities to Teach Students Associative Property
![](https://dev.theedadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/teacher-greenboard-1-660x400.jpg)
The associative property is an important and fundamental concept in mathematics. It is the property that states that the way in which numbers are grouped does not affect the result of an operation. For example, when adding or multiplying three or more numbers, we can group them in any combination and still get the same answer. However, teaching the associative property can sometimes be a bit challenging for both teachers and students. In this article, we will highlight some activities that can be used to teach students the associative property in an engaging and interactive way.
1. Associative Property Relay
This activity is a fun and interactive way for students to practice the associative property. Divide the class into several teams and choose a set of numbers to work with, such as 3,4, and 7. The first person in each team is given a number and a problem to solve. For example, if the problem is 3 + 4 + 7, the first person would solve it as (3 + 4) + 7 or 3 + (4 + 7). They would then pass the answer to the next person in their team who would add the next number in the sequence, and so on. The first team to complete the relay wins the game.
2. Number Chains
This activity is ideal for introducing the associative property to younger students. Students are divided into pairs, and each pair is given a set of number cards. To set up the game, students lay out the cards in a row, with the numbers facing up. The first player creates a number sentence by selecting two numbers from the chain and grouping them with another number. The player must say out loud that they are using the associative property. For example, if the numbers in the chain are 4, 3, 7, and 2, the student may say, “I am using the associative property to group 4 with 3 to make 7, so my new number sentence is 7 + 2.” The second player then continues the game until they have run out of numbers. The pair with the longest sentence wins.
3. Interactive Whiteboard activities
Interactive whiteboards can be a great tool for teaching the associative property. There are several interactive whiteboard games and activities available on the internet that can be customized to focus on the associative property. For example, the teacher could display a number sentence on the board and ask students to move the numbers around to show different groupings and demonstrate the corresponding the associative property. Alternatively, teachers could assign students a range of questions with varying levels of difficulty on the associative property and have them complete them on the whiteboard.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the associative property is an essential mathematical concept that students must master to succeed in mathematics. However, teaching this concept need not be dull and boring. By incorporating interactive and engaging activities such as those described above, teachers can help their students grasp the fundamentals of the associative property in a fun and interactive way. These activities not only help students understand the concept but also reinforce their ability to apply it to real-life contexts.