Equation Escape: Integer Cipher Math Activity
A fun, escape-room-style activity for 9th graders that practices multiplying and dividing positive and negative integers, evaluating two-step equations at given values of x, and checking whether a value is a solution. Students work in teams through four locks, with answers collected for a final cipher, making it well suited to a collaborative 45 to 60 minute block.
“make a fun activity involving multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers, along with evaluating two-step equations with given values for x and determining if given values are solutions of the equation or not”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Introduce the collaboration rules and have teams assign roles (checker, recorder, solver) before starting Lock 1, which focuses on sign rules for integer operations.
- Discussion question: Why does the product of two negative numbers come out positive, and how does that rule carry over to division?
- Scaffold for struggling students: provide a sign-rule reference card and have them rewrite each problem with the sign decided first before computing the magnitude.
- Extension for advanced students: ask them to write their own two-step equation lock and a set of candidate x-values that include one non-solution for a classmate to check.
- Estimated time: about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on how long teams spend on the final cipher step.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“make a fun activity involving multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers, along with evaluating two-step equations with given values for x and determining if given values are solutions of the equation or not”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Introduce the collaboration rules and have teams assign roles (checker, recorder, solver) before starting Lock 1, which focuses on sign rules for integer operations.
- Discussion question: Why does the product of two negative numbers come out positive, and how does that rule carry over to division?
- Scaffold for struggling students: provide a sign-rule reference card and have them rewrite each problem with the sign decided first before computing the magnitude.
- Extension for advanced students: ask them to write their own two-step equation lock and a set of candidate x-values that include one non-solution for a classmate to check.
- Estimated time: about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on how long teams spend on the final cipher step.
Equation Escape: Integer Cipher Math Activity
A fun, escape-room-style activity for 9th graders that practices multiplying and dividing positive and negative integers, evaluating two-step equations at given values of x, and checking whether a value is a solution. Students work in teams through four locks, with answers collected for a final cipher, making it well suited to a collaborative 45 to 60 minute block.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free