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Distributive Property Guided Notes w/ Doodles | Combining Like Terms Worksheets
$4.25
Overview
Ever wondered how to teach the distributive property and combining like terms in an engaging way to your 7th-grade students? In this lesson plan, students will learn about how to simplify algebraic expressions with positive and negative coefficients. Through artistic, interactive guided notes, check for understanding, practice activities, and a maze worksheet, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of simplifying expressions. The lesson culminates with a real-life example that explores how these skills can be used in a practical context.
Note: For lesson plan with positive coefficients only, click here.
- Standard: CCSS 7.EE.A.1
- Topic: Expressions
- Grade: 7th Grade
- Type: Lesson Plans
Get the Lesson Materials
Distributive Property Guided Notes w/ Doodles | Combining Like Terms Worksheets
$4.25
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
Use the distributive property to simplify expressions with positive and negative coefficients
Combine like terms to simplify expressions with rational coefficients
Apply the distributive property and combining like terms to solve real-life mathematical problems
Prerequisites
Before this lesson, students should be familiar with:
Basic order of operations with whole numbers
Understanding of positive and negative integers and other rational numbers
Understanding of the concept of variables and their use in representing unknowns in expressions
Materials
Pencils
Colored pencils or markers
Key Vocabulary
Distributive property
Terms
Like Terms
Combining like terms
Coefficients
Rational numbers
Positive integers
Negative integers
Procedure
Introduction
As a hook, ask students why learning about the distributive property and combining like terms is important in real life. For example, you can ask them how they would calculate the total cost of buying multiple items at a store. Refer to the last page of the guided notes as well as the FAQs below for more ideas.
Use the first page of the guided notes to introduce the distributive property. Walk through the key points of the distributive property, explaining that it allows us to simplify expressions by distributing a value to each term within parentheses. Emphasize the concept of multiplying each term inside the parentheses by the value outside the parentheses. Refer to the FAQ below for a walk through on this, as well as ideas on how to respond to common student questions.
Use the second page of the guided notes to introduce combining like terms (after distributing). Walk through the key points of combining like terms, explaining that it involves simplifying an expression by adding or subtracting the coefficients of like terms (terms with the same variable and exponent). Emphasize the importance of identifying like terms and performing the indicated operations.
Based on student responses, reteach the concepts of the distributive property and combining like terms that students may need extra help with. If your class has a wide range of proficiency levels, you can pull out students for reteaching, and have more advanced students begin working on the practice exercises.
Practice
Have students practice using the distributive property and combining like terms using the practice worksheets (pg. 3 of guided notes) provided in the resource. Walk around the classroom to answer any student questions and provide assistance as needed.
Fast finishers can dive into the color by number activity (pg. 4) and maze activity (pg. 5), where they can practice how to simplify expressions. These activities can also be assigned as homework for students to complete outside of class.
Real-Life Application
Use the last page of the guided notes (pg. 6) to bring the class back together, and introduce the concept of real-life applications of using distributive property and combining like terms to simplify expressions. Explain that these math skills are not just used in the classroom, but also in everyday life.
Some examples of real-life applications include:
Budgeting: Distributive property and combining like terms can be used to simplify and organize financial expressions when creating a budget. For example, if you have a budget spreadsheet and need to calculate the total cost of multiple items, you can use these skills to simplify the expressions and find the total amount.
Cooking: When following a recipe that requires scaling the ingredients, distributive property and combining like terms can help simplify the calculations. For instance, if a recipe calls for doubling the ingredients, you can use these skills to simplify the expressions and calculate the new quantities.
Business and Sales: Distributive property and combining like terms are used in business and sales to calculate discounts, determine the total cost of items, and analyze profit margins. These skills enable businesses to simplify complex expressions and make more accurate calculations.
Construction and Home Improvement: In the construction industry, distributive property and combining like terms are used to calculate costs, estimate materials needed, and analyze measurements. For example, when calculating the total cost of materials for a construction project or when determining the amount of paint needed to cover a wall, these skills are essential.
By understanding these concepts and being able to apply them in real-life situations, students will develop critical thinking skills and see the practicality of math in their everyday lives.
Refer to the FAQ section of the resource for more ideas and examples on how to teach the real-life application of distributive property and combining like terms.
Extensions
Additional Self-Checking Digital Practice
If you're looking for digital practice for distributive property and combining like terms, try my Pixel Art activities in Google Sheets. Every answer is automatically checked, and correct answers unlock parts of a mystery picture. It's incredibly fun, and a powerful tool for differentiation.
Here are 2 activities to explore:
Distributive Property and Combining Like Terms Pixel Art - Positive Coefficients Only
Distributive Property and Combining Like Terms Pixel Art - Positive & Negative Coefficients
Additional Print Practice
A fun, no-prep way to practice distributive property and combining like terms is Doodle Math—they're a fresh take on color by number or color by code. It includes multiple levels of practice, perfect for a review day or sub plan.
Here are 2 activities to try:
FAQs
The distributive property of multiplication states that when you multiply a number by a sum, you can multiply each addend separately and then add the products together.
To use the distributive property to simplify expressions, follow these steps:
Identify the number being multiplied by the sum (outside number).
Multiply the outside number by each term inside the parentheses (distribute).
Combine like terms, if any.
Combining like terms is the process of adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power(s). This simplifies expressions by combining similar terms into a single term.
To combine like terms in an expression, follow these steps:
Identify terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power(s).
Combine the coefficients (numerical parts) of the like terms.
Write the resulting term with the same variable(s) and power(s).
Sure! Let's simplify the expression: 2(3x + 5) - 4(2x - 1)
Distribute the 2 and the -4: 6x + 10 - 8x + 4
Combine like terms: -2x + 14
Here are some strategies to reinforce the concept of the distributive property and combining like terms:
Use visual representations, such as area models or diagrams, to illustrate the distributive property.
Provide ample practice problems for students to apply the distributive property and combine like terms.
Incorporate real-life examples or word problems that require the use of the distributive property and combining like terms.
Offer interactive activities or games that allow students to practice and reinforce the concept in a fun way.
Yes! Here are some online resources and games you can use to practice the distributive property and combining like terms:
Khan Academy: Offers video lessons and interactive exercises on the topic.
Math Play: Provides online games and activities focused on the distributive property and combining like terms.
IXL Math: Offers a variety of interactive problems and exercises to practice these concepts.
To assess your students' understanding of the distributive property and combining like terms, consider using the following methods:
Assign practice problems for students to solve independently.
Create a quiz or test that includes questions related to the distributive property and combining like terms.
Use exit tickets or formative assessments to gauge students' understanding on a smaller scale.
Observe students during class discussions or group activities to assess their ability to apply the concepts.