Combining Like Terms

Objectives:

• Students will learn the rules of how to combine like terms.

• Students will learn the new vocabulary associated with combining like terms.

• Students will learn how to combine like terms.

• Students will practice simplifying expressions by combining like terms.

Suggested Grades:

Sixth Grade - Seventh Grade - Eighth Grade - Ninth Grade - including special education students

Lesson Procedure:

Print the classroom lesson plan and worksheet questions (see below).

Lesson Excerpt:

I. Introduction

- Note: When combining like terms, it is often helpful to have students circle terms that are alike or underline them or create boxes around them. Feel free to incorporate any of those techniques into this lesson.
- "Today we are going to begin combining like terms. Combining like terms is another way of simplifying in Algebra. Here are a few notes; you want to write these in your notebook."
- Note: Talk students through these notes as you write them on the board. Be sure to give students enough time to both listen and write.
- On Board: Combining Like Terms
- Like Term - every part of the variable is the same. If one part of the variable is different, it is not a like term.
- Like Term - the numbers can be different, but the rest of the term must be exactly the same.
- Simplify - to make smaller by combining the like terms

Continued...