Colouring by Algebra - Linear Systems Octopus (3 versions)

Each worksheet represents a small section of the big picture! The end result will look spectacular hanging up in your classroom :)

CHECK OUT THE PRODUCT PREVIEW to know exactly what these worksheets involve!

Students choose an appropriate strategy (substitution, elimination, or graphing) to solve each linear system, then colour their worksheets based on the answer key.

I love using Desmos to graph the graph-able linear systems with movable lines (rather than letting the mindlessly type the equations in). I'm happy to share a sketch I whipped up: Helpful Desmos Link for graphable systems (free, and independent of this product!)

Get this product as part of a MASSIVE linear systems bundle!

1. Calculate the answers.

2. Colour the squares.

3. Cut out your section.

4. Combine with the class!

INCLUDED (.pdf and .docx files in zip folder):

--> Full class sets of 25 worksheets each, each sheet containing a unique problem set (no cheating :). The sheets combine to create the Octopus mosaic.

-->Worksheets involve linear systems problems with integer solutions, and with integer and rational coefficients / constants.

--> Regular version (16 linear systems problems per worksheet)

--> No fractions version (16 linear systems problems per worksheet) with easy to isolate or eliminate equations.

--> Lighter Workload version (8 linear systems problems per worksheet)

--> Master Answer Key for both sets, showing both the colour and numeric solution for all worksheet problems.

If you like this product, be sure the check out the "Colouring by..." Directory, sorted by topic.

The student buy-in factor is HUGE with these worksheets; they all want to see the finished picture come together! High school students love colouring too! This sure beats textbook homework!

Imagine if your students were the ones policing homework completion? "Common Josh! Do your work or we'll have a hole in our picture!"

Leave the picture a secret or show it for motivation… it’s your call.

Encourage students to check their answers by finding them in the randomized list on their worksheet before they colour each square. This will increase the accuracy of the final picture!

All my “Colouring by…” worksheets use standard pencil-crayon colours found in the Crayola 24 pack. For best results, use the exact colour name match (and encourage quality colouring!). Perhaps a class set of pencil crayons would be a fun math department investment!

If your class size doesn’t line up with 25, no worries! If you have a big class (sorry to hear) you could hand out some duplicate worksheets and decide which to display in the big picture once they're coloured. Or, you could have some students work pairs (differentiated learning!). If you’re under 25 students, in my experience, students were eager to do additional sheets to complete the picture! (Or you could use the answer key to fill in the missing pieces quickly)

I’d love and appreciate any feedback, suggestions, and frontline stories you can share!!

Thanks for checking this out!

~CalfordMath