Explain Everything: MS Math Project Templates (T)

In my original diagram about observed patterns of K-12 EE usage I suggested four variations. I have since updated the diagram to include an increasingly observed pattern for both students and teachers: work project templates.

So this week, I will share an idea about how teachers can create simple activities for students to work with. Next week I'll model how a student might interact with such a template. 

In the project below I model the creation of simple objects that can be used to teach pre-algebraic concepts similar to ways that pan-balance equations would be used to help students think abstractly about numbers. That is, using objects to represent unknown values, values that might change from equation to equation even when the same object is used.