Perfect Balance Warmup Sheet
PERFECT BALANCE
Weekly Equivalence Warm-Up Sheet
Name: _______________________
Date: ____________ Class: _________
The Equal Sign (=) is a Balance Scale!
The = symbol does not mean "calculate the answer." It means both sides must have the exact same total value. Keep your scale level!
Example: 10 + 5 = 12 + 3 (Both sides balance at 15)
10 + 5
=
12 + 3
Monday
18 + 12 = 20 +
Workspace
45 + 15 = 50 +
Workspace
Tuesday
35 + 25 = 40 +
Workspace
55 + 25 = 70 +
Workspace
Wednesday
120 + 130 = 200 +
Workspace
254 + 224 = 400 +
Workspace
Thursday
+ 30 = 45 + 15
Workspace
80 - 15 = 50 +
Workspace
Friday • Balance Master Challenge
150 + 150 = 250 +
Workspace
300 - 120 =
+ 50
Workspace
💡 Balance Master Secret: Explain how you kept the scale balanced on Wednesday's 254 + 224 = 400 + [ ? ] problem.
Perfect Balance Warmup Key
PERFECT BALANCE
Teacher Answer Key & Pacing Guide
Teacher Reference Version
Grade level: 3rd - 5th Focus: Equivalence
Key Misconception Alert: The "Operator" Error
Many students will calculate the left side and write it directly in the box (e.g. for Monday, writing 30 instead of 10). Prompt them with: "If you put 30 in the box, the right side becomes 20 + 30 = 50. Does 30 on the left equal 50 on the right?"
Monday
18 + 12 = 20 +
10
Model Workspace
18 + 12 = 30
30 - 20 = 10
45 + 15 = 50 +
10
Model Workspace
45 + 15 = 60
60 - 50 = 10
Tuesday
35 + 25 = 40 +
20
Model Workspace
35 + 25 = 60
60 - 40 = 20
55 + 25 = 70 +
10
Model Workspace
55 + 25 = 80
80 - 70 = 10
Wednesday
120 + 130 = 200 +
50
Model Workspace
120 + 130 = 250
250 - 200 = 50
254 + 224 = 400 +
78
Model Workspace
254 + 224 = 478
478 - 400 = 78
Thursday
30
+ 30 = 45 + 15
Model Workspace
45 + 15 = 60
60 - 30 = 30
80 - 15 = 50 +
15
Model Workspace
80 - 15 = 65
65 - 50 = 15
Friday • Balance Master Challenge
150 + 150 = 250 +
50
Model Workspace
300 = 250 + 50
300 - 120 =
130
+ 50
Model Workspace
180 = 130 + 50
💡 Balance Master Secret: Exemplar Student Response & Strategy
Sample Answer: "I added 254 + 224 to get a total of 478 on the left. Since both sides must balance, I subtracted 400 from 478 to find what was missing, which gives me 78." (Look for students noting that the left side equals 478)
