Math lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes
Recognise and factorise perfect square trinomials
Algebra
CCSS HSA.SSE.A.2England: GCSE Higher Algebra
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Recognise and factorise perfect square trinomials.
- 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: Factorise quadratics x² + bx + c
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Factorise quadratics x² + bx + c). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Factorise: x² + 7x + 12 ((x + 4)(x + 3) / (x + 4)(x − 3) / (x − 4)(x − 3) / (x + 7)(x + 1)) → (x + 4)(x + 3)Prompt: Find two numbers that multiply to 12 and add to 7.
- Factorise fully: x² + 2x − 24 → (x+6)(x-4)Prompt: Two numbers: product −24, sum 2.
- Factorise: x² − 2x − 3 ((x − 2)(x + 1) / (x − 3)(x − 1) / (x − 3)(x + 1) / (x + 3)(x − 1)) → (x − 3)(x + 1)Prompt: Find two numbers that multiply to −3 and add to −2.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Recognise and factorise perfect square trinomials. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Factorise: x² − 4x + 4
- Step 1: 4 = 2², 2 × (−2) = −4
- Step 2: (x − 2)²
- Answer: (x − 2)²
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Factorise: x² − 16x + 64 ((x − 8)(x + 8) / (x − 8)² / (x + 64)(x + 1) / (x + 8)²) → (x − 8)²Prompt: Is 64 a square number? Is the middle term twice its root?
- What number c makes x² + 16x + c a perfect square? → 64Prompt: Halve the coefficient of x.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What number c makes x² + 12x + c a perfect square? → 36Prompt: Halve the coefficient of x.
- Factorise: 9x² − 12x + 4 ((3x − 2)(3x + 2) / (3x + 2)² / (3x + 4)² / (3x − 2)²) → (3x − 2)²Prompt: 9x² = (3x)² and 4 = 2².
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: Factorise quadratics x² + bx + c.
- 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
- 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-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder