Year 6 forming equations lesson pack | Algebra: Spring Block 2: Week 4
This Year 6 forming equations lesson pack builds directly on pupils’ prior work with function machines by showing how problems can be represented and recorded as algebraic equations. Aligned with the White Rose Spring Block 2 small step, the lesson supports pupils to translate visual models and worded scenarios into correctly structured equations using letters to represent unknown values.
Pupils explore the key difference between expressions and equations, learning how equality is shown and why the order of operations matters. Bar models, part-whole representations and real-life contexts are used to help pupils form equations such as 3a + 2 = 20, preparing them for solving one-step and two-step equations later in the week.
What’s included
- Teaching PowerPoint introducing equations, unknowns and algebraic notation
- Differentiated Year 6 forming equations worksheets
- Reasoning and problem-solving tasks, including identifying and correcting errors
- Lesson plan with retrieval practice, structured teaching steps and common misconceptions
Curriculum links
- Express missing number problems algebraically
- Use letters to represent unknown values
- Understand and use equations to show equality
This lesson sits within the Year 6 Spring maths scheme, supporting progression from modelling relationships to solving equations with one or more steps, in line with the full White Rose sequence.
