Objectives (5 minutes)

1. Understand the concept of equality: Students should be able to understand that the equal sign (=) means that both sides of the expression have the same value. This can be represented in different ways, such as with scales, drawings, or manipulative objects.

2. Identify the need to maintain equality: Students should be able to realize that when performing a mathematical operation (addition or subtraction), it is necessary to maintain equality between both sides. This will help develop the concept of mathematical equations in a simplified and playful way.

3. Practice solving mathematical problems: Using contextualized problem-solving situations, students will have the opportunity to apply the concept of equality and basic mathematical operations (addition and subtraction) to find solutions. This will help develop their critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of concepts: The teacher should start the lesson by reminding students of the basic concepts of addition and subtraction, which are the mathematical operations that will be used in the practical activity. This can be done through questions and answers, or even with a quick memory game, where students must match cards with mathematical operations and their results.

2. Problem-solving situations: Next, the teacher should present two problem-solving situations involving the concept of equality. For example, 'John has 5 candies, he ate 2. How many candies does John have left?' and 'Mary has 3 red pencils and 2 blue pencils. How many pencils does Mary have in total?'. The teacher should emphasize that, in both situations, it is necessary to maintain equality between both sides of the operation.

3. Contextualization: The teacher should explain to students that mathematics is present in our daily lives and that equality is a very important concept. For example, it can be said that when dividing a cake equally between two people, it is necessary to ensure that both parts are equal. Or when sharing toys with friends, it is important that each receives the same amount to be fair.

4. Introduction to the topic: The teacher should then introduce the topic of the lesson: 'Equality: Same Operation on Both Sides'. It can be explained that, just like in a balance game, if we add or remove weight from one side, we need to do the same on the other side to maintain balance. Similarly, in mathematics, if we perform an operation on one side of the equality, we need to do the same operation on the other side to maintain equality.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

Here are three suggestions for practical activities that the teacher can choose to develop the concept of equality and the maintenance of equality during mathematical operations. Each activity should be adapted to the students' age group and learning environment:

1. Balancing the Scale

   • The teacher can draw a large scale on the board and divide the class into two groups. Each student receives a piece of paper with a drawing of an object (an apple, a ball, a pencil, etc.) and a number (1, 2, 3, etc.) indicating how many objects the drawing represents.

   • Each group places their 'objects' on the scale, and the teacher makes a simple equation with the numbers (for example, 3 + 2 = 5) and asks the students: 'What do we need to do to keep the scale balanced?'. The students should understand that if we add 1 to one side, we need to add 1 to the other side to maintain equality.

   • The game continues with different combinations of objects and numbers, encouraging students to balance the scale and maintain equality.

2. Ant Challenge

   • The teacher can divide the class into groups and give each group a number of popsicle sticks (they can be ice cream sticks or any other material the teacher has available).

   • The teacher proposes a problem-solving situation: 'You are ants and need to collect food for the anthill. Each popsicle stick represents a piece of food. You need to divide the food equally among all the ants in the anthill. How will you do that?'.

   • The students should start dividing the sticks equally among them, practicing the idea of equality and maintaining equality during division.

3. Math Memory Game

   • The teacher can create a memory game with cards. In each pair of cards, one should contain a simple mathematical operation (addition or subtraction) and the other the result of the operation.

   • Students, in groups, should flip two cards at a time. If the operation and the result form an equality, they can collect the cards. If not, they should flip them back and try another combination.

   • The goal is for students to find pairs of cards representing mathematical equalities and to understand that, to maintain equality, they need to perform the same operation on both sides.

The teacher should choose the activity that best suits the class and the classroom environment. The important thing is that students have the opportunity to experience the concept of equality and the importance of maintaining it during mathematical operations, in a playful and enjoyable way. Additionally, the teacher should circulate around the room, observing and guiding students during the activity, in order to consolidate learning.

Feedback (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group Discussion

   • After completing the activities, the teacher should gather all students in a large circle for a group discussion. Each group should share their discoveries, solutions, or strategies used during the activity. The teacher should encourage students to explain how they maintained equality in their activities and how they understood the importance of maintaining equality during mathematical operations.

   • During the discussion, the teacher should ask questions to ensure that all students are understanding the concept of equality and the maintenance of equality during operations. For example: 'Why is it important to maintain equality during operations?' or 'What would happen if we did not maintain equality?'. These questions will help consolidate the concept and identify possible doubts or difficulties among students.

2. Connection with Theory and Practice

   • The teacher should then revisit the theory, explaining how the practical activities connect with theoretical concepts. For example, it can be said: 'Just like in the scale activity, in mathematics, if we perform an operation on one side of the equality, we need to perform the same operation on the other side to maintain equality'. The teacher can review the mathematical symbols of addition (+) and subtraction (-) and the equal sign (=) to reinforce the connection between theory and practice.

3. Individual Reflection

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher should suggest that students make a brief reflection on what they have learned. This can be done in the form of simple questions that students should answer mentally. For example:

     • 'What did I like the most about today's lesson and why?'
     • 'What was the most challenging part of today's lesson and why?'
     • 'How can I use what I learned today in situations in my daily life?'

   • The teacher can choose some students to share their answers with the class, if they feel comfortable. This reflection step helps students consolidate what they have learned, identify possible difficulties, and think about the application of the concepts learned.

Feedback is an essential part of the lesson plan, as it allows the teacher to assess students' understanding of the content taught and adjust teaching, if necessary. Additionally, group discussion and individual reflection promote active student participation, critical thinking, and metacognition, important skills for effective learning.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Summary and Recap

   • The teacher should start the conclusion by summarizing the main points discussed during the lesson. This includes the concept of equality, the importance of maintaining equality during mathematical operations, and the strategies used in practical activities to maintain equality (such as in the scale, ant challenge, and math memory game).

   • The teacher should remind students that mathematics is not just about numbers, but also about balance, logic, and equality. It can be reaffirmed that mathematics is a powerful tool that we use every day to solve problems and make decisions.

2. Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications

   • Next, the teacher should explain how the lesson connected theory (the concept of equality and mathematical operations) with practice (the playful activities) and with real-life applications (the idea of balance and fairness in everyday situations).

   • The teacher can mention examples of real-life situations where it is necessary to maintain equality, such as dividing a pizza equally among friends, sharing toys or candies, or even in more complex situations, like solving mathematical problems.

3. Extra Materials and Recommendations

   • To deepen students' understanding of the subject, the teacher can suggest some extra materials. This may include children's books that address the theme of equality and balance, online math games, or educational apps that offer interactive problem-solving activities.

   • The teacher can also encourage students to practice at home by creating their own equality and mathematical operation challenges, for example, with toys, candies, or other everyday objects. This will help reinforce the concept of equality and the maintenance of equality in mathematical operations.

4. Importance of the Subject

   • Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the subject for students' daily lives. It can be mentioned that mathematics is everywhere, from waking up to going to bed, and that understanding the concept of equality and basic mathematical operations is essential for solving problems and making decisions.

   • The teacher can also explain that mathematics does not have to be a daunting subject, but rather a fun and useful tool that helps us understand the world around us. By understanding and applying the concept of equality, students will be taking an important step towards becoming good problem solvers and critical thinkers.

The conclusion is a crucial stage of the lesson plan, as it allows the teacher to reinforce the main concepts, connect theory with practice and application, and motivate students to continue learning and exploring the subject. Additionally, by showing the importance and usefulness of mathematics, the teacher helps combat the fear and aversion that many students have towards the discipline.