An equation is a short math sentence. It uses the equals sign “=” to show that two amounts are the same. The amounts can be numbers, groups of objects, or simple number stories. When the amounts are the same, we say they are equal.
Every equation has a left side and a right side. The equals sign sits in the middle, like a friendly bridge, joining the two sides. The left side comes before the “=”. The right side comes after the “=”.
Understanding the two sides helps children see that math is about balance. Like a seesaw in a playground, both sides of an equation must match. If one child sits on one end, a child of the same weight must sit on the other to make the seesaw level. An equation works the same way—each side must show the same total.
Look at the equation \(3 + 2 = 5\). The left side is \(3 + 2\). The right side is \(5\). If you add 3 and 2, you get 5, so both sides match.
🍌🍌🍌 + 🍌 = 🍌🍌🍌🍌. The left side shows four bananas—three plus one. The right side shows four bananas in a row. Both sides show the same total, so the equation is true.
Think of “=” as a balance scale. If you put 4 blocks on one side of the scale and two groups of 2 blocks on the other, the scale will stay level. The two groups of 2 blocks are the same weight as the single pile of 4 blocks. In math, we write this idea as \(4 = 2 + 2\). Each side balances the other.
Example 1
Equation: \(4 = 2 + 2\)
Example 2
Equation: \(1 + 3 = 2 + 2\)
Example 3
Equation: \(\square + 1 = 3\)
Sharing Snacks: Imagine two friends sharing cookies. One friend puts 2 cookies on a plate, and the other friend adds 3 more. Together they have 5 cookies. They could also start with 5 cookies and divide them into groups of 2 and 3. When they write it, they see \(2 + 3 = 5\) or \(5 = 2 + 3\). The plate shows equality.
Balancing a Seesaw: A seesaw is level when both sides carry the same weight. A child who weighs 25 kg can balance two younger children who weigh 10 kg and 15 kg together. In math, we can write \(25 = 10 + 15\). Kids know the seesaw is fair when both sides feel equal.
Measuring Water: Pouring water from a jug into two cups can show equality. If one cup holds 150 ml and another cup plus a small cup hold 100 ml + 50 ml, the amounts match. A child can see \(150 = 100 + 50\).
Give children a large picture of a balance scale. Place number cards or small toys on each side and ask which belong to the left or right side. Children can label each side and then count to confirm they match.
Sometimes subtraction appears on one side. For instance, \(6 - 2 = 4\). The left side shows a subtraction problem. The right side shows the number 4. After solving \(6 - 2\), we see the left side also equals 4. So the sides balance.
Zero means none. In an equation like \(0 = 1 - 1\), the left side is 0, and the right side is \(1 - 1\). Since \(1 - 1\) equals 0, the two sides match. This idea helps children see that taking away everything leaves nothing, which still balances with 0.
We can show 5 in many ways: \(2 + 3\), \(4 + 1\), or \(5 + 0\). Writing \(2 + 3 = 5\) and \(5 = 4 + 1\) helps children notice different pictures of the same total. This builds number flexibility.
An equation can have several numbers on one side, like \(1 + 2 + 3 = 6\). Here, the left side has three addends, but they all combine to match the right side’s single number 6. Knowing how to break and recombine numbers is helpful for mental math later.
In future grades, children will meet variables that stand for unknown numbers. They will also solve longer equations. But the idea of two equal sides never changes. Beginning with simple left-and-right thinking prepares them for harder algebra later on.
