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Simplifying Expressions Teaching Ideas

This document provides teaching ideas and materials for a lesson on simplifying algebraic expressions. It introduces the concept of variables and like terms using an example of finding the cost of 3 pairs of shoes. Students practice identifying and combining like terms in expressions with one or more variables. Matching cards and games reinforce the concept. A plenary activity involves finding perimeters of shapes using side lengths as variables. Additional practice materials are included.

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Tehreem Javed
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
44 views

Simplifying Expressions Teaching Ideas

This document provides teaching ideas and materials for a lesson on simplifying algebraic expressions. It introduces the concept of variables and like terms using an example of finding the cost of 3 pairs of shoes. Students practice identifying and combining like terms in expressions with one or more variables. Matching cards and games reinforce the concept. A plenary activity involves finding perimeters of shapes using side lengths as variables. Additional practice materials are included.

Uploaded by

Tehreem Javed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Starter

Briefly explain some of the wider uses of algebra, and then present the problem
of finding the cost of 3 pairs of identical shoes. Ask students how they would
approach this.
Students are likely to answer that we just multiply the price of 1 pair by 3.
However, explain that we might not know the cost and must therefore use
algebra to solve the problem. Model the process of assigning a variable, f, to the
cost of each pair and adding these together to get 3f.

Main Activities
KS3 Algebra
Unit 1 Lesson The Rules
1: Simplifying Establish what is meant by ‘variable’ and ‘like terms’, working through the
example to show these in use. Emphasise that a variable has an unknown value
Expressions (if it had a known value, there would be no reason to use algebra!). It is also
Teaching Ideas worth pointing out that a ‘solution’ in terms of simplifying an expression is not a
single integer, but always contains at least one variable.

Learning Objective: Your Turn


To simplify expressions by
There are 7 expressions for the pupils to simplify. Each question only contains
collecting like terms.
a single variable, so the solution should only ever be written in terms of
a or b. Answers are revealed on a click, giving you chance to clear up any
Success Criteria: misunderstanding. These questions are also included on the separate worksheet.
• To identify like terms in
simple expressions.
The Rules
• To simplify expressions
Now, introduce a problem involving two variables. Work through the example,
containing more than one
modelling the process of collecting like terms to simplify the expression. It is
variable.
important to note that different variables cannot be combined, because this
• To present a solution in its requires multiplication (in this case, our solution is 5a + 3b rather than 8ab).
simplest terms.

Your Turn
Context
There are 3 expressions for the pupils to simplify. Each question contains more
This is the first lesson of the
than one variable this time. Answers are revealed on a click, giving you chance
new topic. It is expected
to clear up any misunderstanding. Question 3 may need breaking down on
that students will have little the board, as it contains 3 variables. These questions are also included on the
understanding of algebraic separate worksheet.
manipulation, but they should
be confident in applying the
Matching Cards
order of operations.
Hand out the Simplifying Expressions Matching Cards. Pupils should cut this
into cards (or you may do so beforehand) and match the expressions with their
simplified versions to create 8 pairs. Solutions are revealed on the next slide.
Resources
Simplifying Expressions Using the same cards, you can extend this into a memory game. All cards should
Powerpoint, Simplifying be shuffled, then spread out and placed face down on the desk. Partners should
Expressions Matching Cards, take it in turns to flip over 2 cards. If the cards form a pair (as seen from the
Simplifying Expressions previous task), the pupil can claim this pair; if the cards do not form a pair, they
Triangular Dominoes, should be flipped back over. The pupil who claims the most pairs wins.
Collecting Terms Colour by
Number and Simplifying
Expressions Worksheet.

1
Plenary
Show students the 2D shapes. Each side of each shape has
an algebraic value assigned to it. Pupils should use these to
formulate an expression for finding the shapes’ perimeters.
This should then be expressed in its simplest terms.
This is a good opportunity to iron out any misconceptions
about adding unlike terms and confusing negatives with
positives. Equally, you may indicate that our knowledge
of shape properties should make some of these easier to
solve.

Extra Practice
If you would like to give your students more opportunities
to practice simplifying expressions, you might consider
using the included Simplifying Expressions Triangular
Dominoes and Collecting Like Terms Colour By Number.

KS3 Algebra Unit 1 Lesson 1: Simplifying Expressions Teaching Ideas 2

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