This diagram, called the Lo Shu magic square, is from ancient China. It is at least 2500 years old. One legend describes how there was a terrible flood. People offered sacrifices to the god of a flooding river to calm its anger. Then a turtle appeared with the magic square pattern on its back.

You can find a notice/wonder handout (print front to back if possible) and a Stand and Talk handout (print back to back and cut into two strips) linked above.

You can learn more about the history of algebra in Tools of Algebra: Expressions, Equations & Inequalities.