Unlocking the Power of Exponents: A Pre-Algebra Adventure

PreAlgebra Grades High School 7:21 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

This lesson introduces pre-algebra students to exponents, covering their definition, notation, and evaluation. Students will learn to identify the base and exponent, expand exponential expressions, and simplify them to find their numerical value. The lesson also covers special exponent names like 'squared' and 'cubed'.

Video Resource

What is an Exponent? | An Intro to Exponents | Math with Mr. J

Math with Mr. J

Duration: 7:21
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Base
  • Exponent
  • Exponential Form
  • Expanded Form
  • Squared and Cubed

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the base and exponent in a given exponential expression.
  • Students will be able to convert between exponential form and expanded form.
  • Students will be able to evaluate simple exponential expressions involving whole number exponents.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about exponents. Briefly discuss situations where exponents might be used (e.g., area, volume). Introduce the video 'What is an Exponent? | An Intro to Exponents | Math with Mr. J'.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Play the video 'What is an Exponent? | An Intro to Exponents | Math with Mr. J'. Instruct students to take notes on key terms and examples.
  • Discussion & Examples (15 mins)
    After the video, review the key concepts: base, exponent, expanded form, squared, and cubed. Work through additional examples on the board, having students participate in solving them. Emphasize the difference between exponents and simple multiplication.
  • Interactive Exercise (15 mins)
    Students will work individually or in pairs on the 'Exponent Exploration' exercise (see below). Circulate to provide assistance and answer questions.
  • Wrap-up & Assessment (5 mins)
    Review the main points of the lesson. Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Exponent Exploration
    Provide students with a worksheet containing various exponential expressions (e.g., 2^3, 4^2, 1^5, 3^4). Students must convert each expression to expanded form and then evaluate it. Include expressions with 'squared' and 'cubed'.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the difference between the base and the exponent?
  • Why is it important to understand exponents?
  • How does 'squared' differ from 'cubed' in terms of exponents?
  • What are some real-world examples where exponents are used?

Skills Developed

  • Understanding of mathematical notation
  • Application of mathematical concepts
  • Problem-solving
  • Critical thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

In the expression 7^3, what is the base?

Correct Answer: 7

Question 2:

What does 4^2 mean?

Correct Answer: 4 x 4

Question 3:

Which of the following is equivalent to 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2?

Correct Answer: 2^5

Question 4:

What is 5 squared?

Correct Answer: 25

Question 5:

What is 2 cubed?

Correct Answer: 8

Question 6:

What is the value of 3^4?

Correct Answer: 81

Question 7:

The expression 6 x 6 x 6 can be written as:

Correct Answer: 6^3

Question 8:

Which of the following is the expanded form of 8^2?

Correct Answer: 8 x 8

Question 9:

What is the exponent in the expression 9^5?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 10:

What is the value of 10^3?

Correct Answer: 1000

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The small number in the corner of a base is called the ______.

Correct Answer: exponent

Question 2:

When a number is raised to the power of 2, we say it is ______.

Correct Answer: squared

Question 3:

When a number is raised to the power of 3, we say it is ______.

Correct Answer: cubed

Question 4:

5 x 5 x 5 x 5 in exponential form is written as 5 to the power of ____.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

The ______ tells us how many times to multiply the base by itself.

Correct Answer: exponent

Question 6:

In the expression 2^6, the number 2 is the ____.

Correct Answer: base

Question 7:

7 squared is equal to _____.

Correct Answer: 49

Question 8:

4 cubed is equal to _____.

Correct Answer: 64

Question 9:

The expanded form of 6^3 is ______ x ______ x ______.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 10:

3^5 is equal to ______.

Correct Answer: 243

Educational Standards

PA.N.1.1:Develop and apply the properties of integer exponents, including a^0 = 1 (with a ≠ 0), to generate equivalent numerical and algebraic expressions. PA.A.3.1:Use substitution to simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans