Math lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes
Collect like terms with negative coefficients
Algebra
CCSS 7.EE.A.1England: KS3 AlgebraEngland: GCSE Foundation Algebra
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Collect like terms with negative coefficients.
- 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: Simplify expressions: like terms; Add integers using sign rules
Leads to: Expand two brackets and simplify
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Simplify expressions: like terms; Add integers using sign rules). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Simplify 5x − 7x. → -2xPrompt: These are like terms: they both have x.
- −27 + (−17) = ? → -44Prompt: Same signs: add the sizes and keep the sign.
- Simplify 8x + 6 − 5x − 7. → 3x-1Prompt: Group the x terms together and the numbers together.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Collect like terms with negative coefficients. 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: Simplify −3x − 6 − 7x + 8.
- Step 1: (−3 + (−7))x + (−6 + 8)
- Step 2: −10x + 2
- Answer: -10x+2
- 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.
- Simplify −7x − 2 − 6x + 5. → -13x+3Prompt: Group the x-terms and the number terms.
- Simplify 2a − b − 3a + 6b. → -a+5bPrompt: a-terms and b-terms are different kinds of term.
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.
- Simplify 5x + 4 + 8x − 11. → 13x-7Prompt: Group the x-terms and the number terms.
- Simplify −4a + 6b − a − 4b. → -5a+2bPrompt: a-terms and b-terms are different kinds of term.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Simplify expressions: like terms.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Expand two brackets and simplify.
- 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