Borenson and Associates

Hands-On Equations is a supplementary program that teaches students to solve linear equations using a balance scale and physical "pawns" and number cubes. It is basically a program using a physical manipulative for modeling and solving linear equations-great for kinesthetic and visual learners. Before this review, I had heard about it, and I knew it involved solving equations with a balance, as if "playing. However, once I saw the complete program, I was impressed-because the system of Hands-On Equations includes not only simple equations, but also the usage of distributive property (level I), negative unknowns (level II), negative numbers (level III), AND even word problems similar to typical word problems in pre-algebra or algebra 1. So it is much more than just a system of modeling the simplest equations. In the end of level III, students are solving equations such as 2(−x + 6) − (−2) = 3x + 1! However, the system is beneficial EVEN if your child/student gets to only do level I, which consists of only 7 lessons, because in the end of Level I, students already solve equations such as 2(x + 1) + 5 = 3x + 6. Basically, the program starts out with the simplest of linear equations, such as 2x = 6 or x + 5 = 10. Students use a blue pawn for the unknown (for the 'x') and number cubes for the constants.