Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes
Multi-step calculations with brackets, powers and division
Algebra
CCSS 6.EE.A.1CCSS 6.EE.A.2.CEngland: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multi-step calculations with brackets, powers and division.
- 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: Order of operations with exponents
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 (Order of operations with exponents). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Work out 11 + 4 × 3². → 47Prompt: Powers first, then multiplication, then addition.
- Work out (5 + 4)² − 3 × 2. → 75Prompt: Brackets first.
- Zara worked out 8 + 3² by adding first and got 121. What is the correct answer? → 17Prompt: Which comes first: the addition or the power?
Hook · 5 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Multi-step calculations with brackets, powers and division. 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: Work out (4 + 11)² ÷ 5 − 18.
- Step 1: 15² = 225
- Step 2: 225 ÷ 5 = 45
- Step 3: 45 − 18 = 27
- Answer: 27
- 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.
- Work out (4 + 11)² ÷ 3 − 12. → 63Prompt: Brackets, then powers, then division, then subtraction.
- Work out (2² + 20) ÷ 8. → 3Prompt: Work inside the brackets first.
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.
- Work out (1 + 24)² ÷ 5 − 3. → 122Prompt: Brackets, then powers, then division, then subtraction.
- Which calculation equals 21? (9 × (2 + 6) / 9 × 2 + 6 / (9 + 2) × 6 / 9 + 2 × 6) → 9 + 2 × 6Prompt: Work out each option, doing brackets first.
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: Order of operations with exponents.
- 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-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder