Mathematics Pacing Resource Document
1.CA.6
Standard:
1.CA.6: Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false (e.g., Which of the following
equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 – 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2).
Teacher Background Information:
Interchanging the language of “equal to” and “the same as” as well as “not equal to” and “not the same as” will help students grasp the meaning of the equal
sign. Students should understand that “equality” means “the same quantity as”. In order for students to avoid the common pitfall that the equal sign means “to
do something” or that the equal sign means “the answer is,” they need to be able to:
 Express their understanding of the meaning of the equal sign
 Accept sentences other than a + b = c as true (a = a, c = a + b, a = a + 0, a + b = b + a)
 Know that the equal sign represents a relationship between two equal quantities
 Compare expressions without calculating
Students must learn that the equal sign does not mean “the answer comes next”, but that the symbol signifies an equivalent relationship that the left side
‘has the same value as’ the right side of the equation.
When students understand that an equation needs to “balance”, with equal quantities on both sides of the equal sign, they understand various
representations of equations, such as:
 an operation on the left side of the equal sign and the answer on the right side (5 + 8 = 13)
 an operation on the right side of the equal sign and the answer on the left side (13 = 5 + 8)
 numbers on both sides of the equal sign (6 = 6)
 operations on both sides of the equal sign (5 + 2 = 4 + 3).
Process Standards to Emphasize with Instruction of 1.CA.6:
1.PS.2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
1.PS.3: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
1.PS.6: Attend to precision.
1.PS.7: Look for and make use of structure.
Indianapolis Public Schools
Curriculum and Instruction
Mathematics Pacing Resource Document
1.CA.6
Standard:
1.CA.6: Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false (e.g., Which of the following
equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 – 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2).
Lesson Plans/Print Activities:
 Understand the meaning of the equal sign by pairing equivalent expressions
and constructing true number sentences.
https://www.engageny.org/resource/grade-1-mathematics-module-1-topic-elesson-17
 Understand the meaning of the equal sign by pairing equivalent expressions
and constructing true number sentences.
https://www.engageny.org/resource/grade-1-mathematics-module-1-topic-elesson-18
 Represent the same story scenario with addends repositioned (the
commutative property).
https://www.engageny.org/resource/grade-1-mathematics-module-1-topic-elesson-19
 True or False?
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResource/Preview/33081
 Understanding the Equal Sign
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResource/Preview/37920
 Partner Game Determining if Number Sentences are True or False (2 Different
Games)
http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/support-files/trueorfalse.pdf
http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/support-files/equalsums.pdf
Indianapolis Public Schools
Web-based Practice:

Addition Scale Game – Make the Scale Equal on Both Sides
http://www.toytheater.com/addition-scale.php
(This game is intended for advanced students or whole group)

Virtual Manipulatives - Virtual Pan Balance
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3530

Virtual Pan Balance – Shows equation with Blocks on Balance
http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/linda/algebra/activ
ities/balance/balance.html
Curriculum and Instruction
Mathematics Pacing Resource Document
1.CA.6
Standard:
1.CA.6: Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false (e.g., Which of the following
equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 – 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2).
Item Bank:
Look at each equation. Tell if the equation is true or false by circling the word.
Answers: False, True, True, False
Circle the number sentences that are true.
9 + 4 = 15
10 + 4 = 15 – 1
12 – 3 = 9 + 1
14 = 6 + 8
8 + 5 = 15 – 2
9 + 4 = 13 – 10
Look at the number sentence in
the box. What number will make
that number sentence true?
?–5=6+3
? = ____
Answer: 14
Indianapolis Public Schools
Curriculum and Instruction