Math lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes
Predict the sign of a product or quotient
Number sense
CCSS 7.NS.A.2England: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Predict the sign of a product or quotient.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Multiply integers, including three factors and powers
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Multiply integers, including three factors and powers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- −5 × 7 = ? → -35Prompt: Multiply the sizes first.
- −3 × 5 × 3 = ? → -45Prompt: Count the negative factors.
- Evaluate −5³. → -125Prompt: Without brackets, only 5 is raised to the power; the minus sign is applied after.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Predict the sign of a product or quotient. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Without multiplying: is −4 × 6 × (−6) × (−1) positive or negative?
- Step 1: 3 negative factors: odd → negative.
- Answer: Negative
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Without multiplying: is 5 × (−4) × (−6) × 6 × 9 positive or negative? (Positive / Negative) → PositivePrompt: Count the negative factors.
- Is (−1)³⁷ equal to 1 or −1? (1 / −1) → −1Prompt: (−1) × (−1) = 1.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Is (−1)³⁸ equal to 1 or −1? (1 / −1) → 1Prompt: (−1) × (−1) = 1.
- What is the sign of 35 ÷ (−7) × (−7)? (Positive / Negative / Zero) → PositivePrompt: Dividing follows the same sign rules as multiplying.
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Multiply integers, including three factors and powers.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder