Scribd
Upload
74 views

Lesson Plan: Class: Algebra I Grade Level: 8 Unit: Simplifying Rational Expressions Teacher: Mr. Jacob Hertel

This lesson plan teaches 8th and 9th grade algebra students how to simplify rational expressions. Students will review simplifying fractions with a game. Then they will learn that rational expressions can be simplified by cancelling common factors, just like fractions. Students will practice identifying common factors and simplifying expressions through a puzzle activity and whiteboard races. Finally, students will create fake text messages explaining how to simplify rational expressions to demonstrate their understanding. The overall goal is for students to be able to simplify rational expressions.

Uploaded by

Noemi Ladra Tagotongan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
74 views

Lesson Plan: Class: Algebra I Grade Level: 8 Unit: Simplifying Rational Expressions Teacher: Mr. Jacob Hertel

This lesson plan teaches 8th and 9th grade algebra students how to simplify rational expressions. Students will review simplifying fractions with a game. Then they will learn that rational expressions can be simplified by cancelling common factors, just like fractions. Students will practice identifying common factors and simplifying expressions through a puzzle activity and whiteboard races. Finally, students will create fake text messages explaining how to simplify rational expressions to demonstrate their understanding. The overall goal is for students to be able to simplify rational expressions.

Uploaded by

Noemi Ladra Tagotongan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Lesson Plan

Class: Algebra I

Grade Level: 8th – 9th

Unit: Simplifying Rational Expressions

Teacher: Mr. Jacob Hertel

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)


 CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.D.6 Rewrite simple rational expressions in
different forms; write a(x)/b(x) in the form q(x) + r(x)/b(x), where a(x), b(x), q(x), and
r(x) are polynomials with the degree of r(x) less than the degree of b(x), using
inspection, long division, or, for the more complicated examples, a computer
algebra system.
 CCSS.Math.Content.HSA-APR.D.7 (+) Understand that rational expressions form
a system analogous to the rational numbers, closed under addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division by a nonzero rational expression; add, subtract,
multiply, and divide rational expressions.

21st Century Skill(s)

- Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written and nonverbal
communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts
- Listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitudes and
intentions
- Use communication for a range of purposes (e.g. to inform, instruct, motivate and
persuade)

Essential Question

How do you simplify rational expressions?

Objectives

1) Students will be able to identify common factors in rational expressions.

2) Students will be able to simplify rational expressions.

Anticipatory Set

Review game – Fly swatter game

- On an overhead, board, projector, etc. there will be a grid with different values
written in each box. Examples would be along the lines of 3/7, 4, 1/9. The class
will be split into two teams. One person from each team will go to board with a
fly swatter. I will then ask them a question about simplifying rational numbers.
Examples would be “What is 8/12 in its simplest form?” or “What is the Greatest
Common Factor (GCF) in the term 3/9?” The students will then locate the answer
to the question on the board and swat the answer with the fly swatter. The student
who gets the answer first receives 1 point. If they swat the wrong answer they lose
a point and may not swat again during that turn.

- The goal of this game is to review rational numbers and how to simplify them. It
will allow students to better see the connection between rational numbers
(fractions) and rational expressions when we begin to simplify.

Time: 15 – 20 Minutes

Teaching Activities

- Ask students what they noticed about simplifying rational numbers. Did they have
to be multiplying by the common factor to simplify? Could they do if they were
adding or subtracting by a common factor? Give examples and non-examples.

- Introduce rational expressions

o Give examples: 3/(x+4), (4x-2)/6, (x2 – 4)/x


o Explain that just like rational numbers, rational expressions can have
common factors. We can cancel by these common factors to simplify the
expressions.
 Ex: 2x / 2(x+5)
 First we identify a numeric common factor in 2 so we can
cancel those out to get x / (x+5).
o Ask kids if we can cancel the x in numerator and
denominator. Have them explain answer.
 We can’t cancel by x so we have final answer.
 Have them do examples with just numeric common factors.
 Start with examples with x in a common factor. Keep in factored
format.
 Ex: (x-1)(x+4)/(x-1)(3x)
o Ask students to identify common factor.
o (x-1) is common factor so we get final answer of
(x+4)/3x.
o They will then do an activity which is a riddle puzzle. They will have to
identify the GCF of rational expressions. They then will write the
corresponding letters in the box over the answer in the bottom. When all
are complete an answer to a riddle or joke is revealed.
 Ex: http://www.carlisleschools.org/webpages/wolfer/files/practice
%20rational%20expressions.pdf
 Corresponds with objective 1.
 This is for a different lesson. It is provide to show the
template I would use.
o Move to simplifying with multiple degrees of x.
 Ex: (x2 – x – 2)/(x2-4)
 We factor to find this is (x-2)(x+1)/(x-2)(x+2)
 x-2 is our common factor
 Final answer would be (x+1)/(x+2)

- White Board races (Pairs)


o Students pair up to solve rational expressions on white boards
o Team that gets answer first gets 2 points, teams who get correct answer but
not first get 1 point, and if they get wrong answer they lose 1 point.
 This corresponds with objective 2.

Time: 60- 65 minutes

Closure

- iFaketext
o Students will create a fake conversation in text to describe to a student
who was sick how to simplify rational expressions.
 Essential question correspondence.
 This is like an exit slip
 NOTE: School would be one-to-one.

Time: 5 minutes

Assessment

My assessments are in teaching activities, highlighted in yellow.

Duration

80-90 minutes. Leftover time is for homework, if any.

“I Can” Statement

I can simplify rational expressions.

Modified from Madeline Hunters Lesson Plan Design

You might also like