This book demonstrates how some of the fundamental ideas of algebra can be introduced, developed and extended. It focuses on repeating and growing patterns, introduces the concepts of variable and equality and examines relations and functions. Its activities are designed to capture the interest of small children as they investigate growing patterns, use pictures of dogs with varying numbers of spots to solve for missing addends and use spinners to identify and explore functions. The supplemental CD-ROM features interactive electronic activities, master copies of activity pages for students and additional readings for teachers.