Algebraic Thinking is Important: Can you solve?

I have learned that algebraic thinking is not something that just magically appears in the heads of middle schoolers. It is a concept that should be developed in the earlier grades. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized that the reason why I initially struggled with algebra originated in elementary school.  My elementary math experiences consisted mostly of arithmetic and a few "word problems."  Therefore, I lacked basic foundational experiences that would have helped to develop my understanding of algebraic thinking later on. Algebraic thinking definitely has it's place in early grades...as a matter of fact, the earlier the better!  Kids see things like patterns, input/output tables, start unknown problems, change unknown problems, and mystery numbers as fun/challenging experiences...they'll thank you for it later!  Here's one for you (and your students) to try!