What It Is
Balance Lab is a 14-lesson, 15–20 hour hands-on Math Lab where students build a physical balance and use cups-and-cubes models to represent and solve equations — from one-step equations through negatives, the distributive property, and equations with variables on both sides. It's concrete-to-abstract algebra: students see and feel what "solving an equation" means before they ever write one.
Activities use physical materials, such as wooden balance beams, cups (variables), cubes (constants), game cards (ZERO OUT and CARD X), and equation worksheets. All materials are fully durable — buy once, use every year.
The Story
Students start by building a physical balance from wood, then explore how it works through hands-on experimentation. They move from physical intuition to mathematical representation: cups stand for variables, cubes stand for constants. Over 14 lessons they progress from creating equations on the balance to writing and solving them, introducing negative numbers, isolating variables, playing the strategy game ZERO OUT, making balanced moves, applying the distributive property, solving complex equations on paper, and competing in CARD X.
Each task requires students to use algebraic reasoning in authentic, hands-on ways. The curriculum is taught through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org — Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded videos. No special training is required.
Who It's For
- 6th–8th grade teachers looking for hands-on supplemental curriculum in equations and algebraic reasoning
- 9th grade teachers who need Algebra 1 foundations review
- Afterschool and summer program directors who want turnkey STEM programming
- Curriculum coordinators looking for hands-on, standards-aligned supplements that work alongside any core curriculum
What's in the Kit
- Wooden balance beam kits
- Cups (variables) and cubes (constants)
- ZERO OUT game cards
- CARD X game cards
- Equation worksheets and recording sheets
- Balance puzzle challenge sheets
- Exit tickets and assessment materials
- Quick reference booklet
14 Lessons at a Glance
How It Works
Every lesson runs through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org. Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded video mini-lessons — he introduces each task, demonstrates the math, and guides students through the activity. No special training is required. Open the kit, follow the slides, and go.
Lessons are designed to run between 45 and 90 minutes, with some extending longer at the teacher's discretion. The curriculum works as a daily block (4–5 weeks), a twice-weekly enrichment (7–10 weeks), or an afterschool/summer program.
Sample Lesson
Standards by Lesson
Balance Lab covers one-step equations, two-step equations, multi-step equations, and equations with variables on both sides standards already in your grade 6–8 scope. It supplements any core curriculum and gives students a chance to apply the math you're already teaching.
| # | What Students Do | Standards |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Build a balance & physical equations | 6.EE.B.5 |
| 5–6 | Variables on both sides; write & solve equations | 6.EE.B.7, 8.EE.C.7 |
| 7 | Negative numbers — integers in equations | 7.EE.B.4 |
| 8 | Isolate a variable — inverse operations | 7.EE.B.4 |
| 9 | Play ZERO OUT — equation strategy game | 6.EE.B.7, 7.EE.B.4 |
| 10 | Balanced moves — equivalent transformations | 8.EE.C.7 |
| 11 | Distributive property | 7.EE.A.1, 8.EE.C.7 |
| 12–13 | Solving on paper — complex equations | 8.EE.C.7 |
| 14 | Play CARD X — equation championship | 6.EE–8.EE |
Career & Workplace Connections
Each Balance Lab lesson connects to a real-world career role that uses the same math students are learning. For every lesson, we provide a one-page Workplace Connection brief that introduces a professional — such as a pharmacist who solves dosage equations to ensure patient safety, or a structural engineer who uses equations with variables on both sides to calculate load-bearing requirements. These briefs give CTE directors and career-readiness coordinators a concrete way to show students how equations, algebraic reasoning, and problem-solving appear in careers across healthcare, engineering, finance, and technology — making Balance Lab a natural fit for programs that integrate academic content with career and technical education pathways.
Kit Sizes
Balance Lab is sold as a bundle with Slope Lab. All three sizes run the same 14-lesson curriculum. Teams are 4 students each.
Starter Kit
Trial size. Two teams get the full Balance Lab + Slope Lab experience.
- 2 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 2 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Game cards (ZERO OUT + CARD X)
4-Team Kit
For smaller classes, intervention groups, afterschool programs.
- 4 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 4 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Game cards (ZERO OUT + CARD X)
Full Kit
Full-class including materials for all 7 teams.
- 7 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 7 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Game cards (ZERO OUT + CARD X)
Cost Per Student
4-Team Kit: $795 ÷ 16 students = $50 per student for 40–50 hours of instruction across both labs. All materials are fully durable — buy once, use every year. Year 2+ cost: $0.