Novato Unified School District
Course Description
HIGH SCHOOL PRE-ALGEBRA
Course Title
Department or Discipline
History/Social Studies
High School-Pre Algebra
English/Language Arts
High Schools
Mathematics
Novato High School
Laboratory Science
San Marin High School
Language other than English
Visual & Performing Arts (for 2003)
Marin Oaks High School
College Preparatory Elective:
District
Subject Area: __________________
Novato Unified School District
City
Novato, California 94945
Name of School Contact Person
Grade Level(s) for which course is
intended
Jan La Torre-Derby
9 and 10
Title/Position
Assistant Superintendent
Contact Information
Phone: (415) 897-4269
Fax: (415) 892-1622
E-mail: jderby@nusd.org
Length of Course
Semester
Year
Other
Unit Value
0.5 (half year equivalent)
1.0 (one year equivalent)
2.0 (two year equivalent)
Other: _____________________
Seeking “Honors” distinction?
Yes
No
Was this course previously approved by UC?
Yes
No
If so, in what year?
Under what course title?
Date of School Board Approval
May 21, 2002
Pre-Requisites
None
Textbook Adopted
Pre-Algebra, Tools For A Changing World. Prentice Hall
Authors: Davison, Landau, McCracken and Thompson
Brief Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with the understanding of the concepts and skills
needed to be successful in algebra 1 and geometry. The students study quantitative relationships
by using algebraic terminology and learn to simplify and evaluate numerical expressions and
solve equations with use of arithmetic properties. In addition, students receive remediation in
fractions, decimals, percents, ratio and proportions.
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
HIGH SCHOOL PRE-ALGEBRA
COURSE CONTENT
A.
Course Goals and/or Major Student Outcomes
To develop a large variety of problem solving and thinking skills for success in
Algebra.
B.
Course Objectives-specific Student Learning Objectives
Standards
Objectives
All standards are grade 7 unless specified by
Algebra and/or Geometry.
1. Students will use the four basic operations on
integers. They will understand and apply the
meaning of absolute value and use additive
inverse when subtracting integers. They will
evaluate and write algebraic expressions using
the order of operations in simplifying
expressions. They will understand the
quadrants and plotting points on a coordinate
plane.
Number Sense 1.2 , 2.5
Algebra & Functions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Algebra: 1, 2
2. Students will solve one-step equations and
inequalities by using the four basic operations.
They will use the arithmetic properties of
numbers to simplify algebraic expressions.
Algebra & Functions 1.1, 1.3, 1.4
Algebra: 1, 3, 4
3. Students will use the four basic operations to
solve decimal problems and apply decimals in
one-step equations. They will apply the
concepts of mean, median and mode along
with estimating and rounding numbers. They
will simplify and evaluate formulas.
Number Sense 1.2
Algebra & Functions 1.2
Algebra: 4
4. Students will use exponential notation with
order of operations in simplifying and
evaluating expressions. They will apply
divisibility rules when finding factors, prime
factorization of numbers and simplifying
fractions. They will understand and evaluate
scientific notation.
Number Sense 1.1, 1.2 , 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5
Algebra & Functions 1.2, 2.1, 2.2
Measurement and Geometry 1.3
Algebra: 2
5. Students will use the four basic operations to
solve fraction problems and apply fractions in
one-step equations. They will convert
fractions to decimals and vice versa. They will
understand how to use customary units of
measure.
Number Sense 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 2.3
Algebra & Functions 2.1, 2.2
Measurement & Geometry 1.1, 2.4
Algebra: 4
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
HIGH SCHOOL PRE-ALGEBRA
6. Students will use the arithmetic properties of
numbers and the four basic operations to solve
two-step equations.
Number Sense 1.7
Algebra & Functions 1.1, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2
Algebra: 1, 2, 3
7. Students will understand ratios and unit rates
and be able to use and solve proportions when
using scale factors and word problems. They
will be able to convert percents to fractions,
decimals and back. They will write and solve
percent equations along with finding percent
increase and decrease. They will solve markup
and discount problems along with basic
probability and odds.
Number Sense 1.2 , 1.3, 1.5, 1.7
Algebra & Functions 4.2
Measurement & Geometry 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Algebra: 4
8. Students will use formulas to find the
perimeter, area, volume and surface area of
two and three-dimensional figures. They will
identify basic elements of geometric figures.
Measurement & Geometry 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,
3.5, 3.6
Geometry 8, 9, 10
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
HIGH SCHOOL PRE-ALGEBRA
C.
Course Outline
Topics/Units/Themes
Key Activities/Assignments
.Objective 1
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Writing and evaluating algebraic expressions
Order of operations
Integer operations
Absolute value
Additive inverse & multiplicative inverse
Coordinate Planes
Objective 2
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Properties of equality
One-step equations
One-step inequalities
Objective 3
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Estimating and rounding
Comparing decimals
Decimal operations
Solve equations with decimals
Mean, median and mode
Apply formulas
Objective 4
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Divisibility rules
Factors, prime factorization and G.C.F.
Simplifying fractions
Basic properties of exponents
Order of operations with exponents
Scientific notation
Objective 5
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Fraction operations
Fraction conversion to decimals
Decimal conversion to fractions
Solve equations with fractions
Customary units of measure
Objective 6
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Solving two-step equations
Objective 7
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Ratios, unit rates, and proportions
Objective 7 continued
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Scale factors
Percents
Percent conversion to fractions, decimals
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
HIGH SCHOOL PRE-ALGEBRA
 Fraction conversion to percents
 Decimal conversion to percents
 Percent increase and decrease
 Markup and discounts
 Probability vs odds
Objective 8
D.
E.
F.
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Area of triangle, quadrilaterals and circles
Volume of prisms and cylinders
Surface Area of prisms and cylinders
Texts and Supplemental Instructional Materials
Pre-Algebra, Tools For A Changing World. Prentice Hall
Authors: Davison, Landau, McCracken and Thompson
Supplemental Materials: Skills Intervention Kit, (Prentice Hall)
Secondary Math Lab Toolkit (CD-ROM)
Pre-Algebra, Student Tutorial (CD-ROM)
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Instructional Methods and Strategies
Direct Instruction/Lecture
Teach models problem solving
Demonstration, explanation and teacher facilitated discussions
Cooperative learning groups
Students solve problems
Students practice with materials
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Assessment Methods and/or Tools
Teacher-designed tests
Publisher tests/assessments
Class participation
Notebook
Homework
Performance tasks assessed using rubrics
Final semester exams