Math lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes
Expand brackets (distributive property)
Algebra
CCSS 6.EE.A.3CCSS 7.EE.A.1England: KS3 AlgebraEngland: GCSE Foundation Algebra
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Expand brackets (distributive property).
- 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; Multiply and divide integers
Leads to: Factorise linear expressions; Equations with the unknown on both sides; Multiply binomials (expand double brackets)
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 (Simplify expressions: like terms; Multiply and divide integers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Simplify 4x + 4x. → 8xPrompt: These are like terms: they both have x.
- 8 × (−8) = ? → -64Prompt: First multiply the sizes, ignoring the signs.
- Simplify 7x − 5 − 6x + 7. → x+2Prompt: Group the x terms together and the numbers together.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Expand brackets (distributive property). 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: Expand: 4(x + 9)
- Step 1: 4 × x = 4x
- Step 2: 4 × 9 = 36
- Step 3: 4x + 36
- Answer: 4x+36
- 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.
- Expand: 6(x − 7) → 6x-42Prompt: Multiply every term inside the bracket by the number outside.
- Expand: −6(2x + 7) → -12x-42Prompt: The negative outside multiplies every term inside.
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.
- Expand: 6(x − 1) → 6x-6Prompt: Multiply every term inside the bracket by the number outside.
- Expand and simplify: 4(x + 3) − 4(x − 3) → 24Prompt: Expand each bracket separately.
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: Factorise linear expressions; Equations with the unknown on both sides; Multiply binomials (expand double brackets).
- 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