The activities in this book are designed to teach different ways of representing equal values. All the activities support current mathematics standards. As children engage in these activities, they will model equal values using the frog counters and a simple balance. They will develop the understanding that equal values can be shown in different ways and that the order of numbers does not affect the sum. The activities will help children think flexibly about numbers and will help build a foundation for understanding variables and equations when they encounter formal algebra instruction in later years.