Simplifying Expressions with Exponents
4.3
* Use academic vocabulary (Students/learners are expected to use bold/italicized words)
 Use ELD Strategy
 Effective Teaching Strategy
Students will be utilizing manipulatives to simplify expressions involving
Overview
exponents.
Students will be able to:
Objectives
 Simplify expressions with exponents
Vocabulary
Exponents, negative exponents, power, negative power, canceling,
expressions, simplify
Prior Knowledge
Students are able to:
 Understand basic exponent concept, rules of exponent notation
Consideration for Ell and  Use visuals when demonstrating simplifying expressions with exponents
 When possible use bilingual terms
Migrant Students
 Check for understanding frequently
Materials
 Chart paper
 Markers
 protractor(optional)
 yarn
 pencil/pen
Into
 Review the concept of exponents:
 Connect to Prior
 E.g. 3² = 33
Knowledge
 Review basic rules 3² 
(3 is the base)
Introduce Simple Question:
How do you simplify x²  x³ ?
Modeling:
Explain that x² means “two copies of x”, and x³ means “three copies of x”
Have Mini-Corps tutors use objects to show this.
X  X and X X  X = X  X  X  X
So “two copies of x, and three copies of x gives me five copies of x”
Through
 Strategies
 Visual
Representation
 Manipulative
Introduce a different problem: Simplify
Allow students to use objects to show that
Can be placed as: 6 ∙ 6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6
equal number on top.
6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6 ∙6
You are left with three sixes or
6 ∙6 ∙6
1
means “eight copies of 6”
Cancel the sixes in bottom with
= 6³
4.3
Beyond
 Reflection
 Next steps/Application
Simplify:
Assessment
Metacognitive Reflection
Simplify
Next lesson could be about simplifying expressions involving negative
exponents.
 Review problems as a group
 Have volunteers explain how they solved the problem
 Have students create a “challenge” new problem.
 Monitor student work as they do the practice problems.
 Why is it useful for students to understand this process?
 What would be a practical application of an expression involving
exponents?
4.3