View video clips This video lesson shows an informal preformal formal progression of algebraic thinking from grade 6 to grade 8. Three middle school teachers work together to make math accessible and understandable to students at all levels, one of the major goals of this curriculum. In the grade six lesson, "V-Patterns," students are introduced to basic algebraic thinking by analysing the flight pattern of geese.

In grade seven, students explore beams used at a construction site to discover patterns and express these patterns with formulas. Finally, in grade eight, children represent hair growth using three different representations: linear equations, tables and graphs. Throughout, students are discovering relationships and making generalizations using algebraic thinking.