LITTLESTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALGEBRA 1
Subject
Algebra 1
Grade Level
7-9
Mission Statement
K-12 Mission Statement for <subject area: ie, English Language Arts (ELA); mathematics; science, social studies>
A standards-based math education at Littlestown Area School District will provide authentic experiences where students connect with their world by applying and
integrating mathematical concepts throughout their daily experiences.
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On a social level, our mathematicians will be collaborative as well as independent, risk- takers, who are self-motivated and confident.
○ Therefore, students will have opportunities for authentic learning experiences where they will work together to transfer and apply math concepts to real
world math problems.
Assessments should be ongoing, diagnostic, and aligned with instruction.
○ Therefore, students will engage in multiple authentic assessment opportunities.
Students will be lifelong learners.
○ Therefore, we will facilitate instruction and curriculum designed to develop students, who will be informed and active problem solvers.
Instruction should be relevant, meaningful, and evidence-based.
○ Therefore, we will facilitate differentiated instruction and assessments based on evidence collected throughout the student experience.
Course Description
What is it that students will learn during this course?
This course is an algebra course which involves an investigation of fundamental algebraic concepts including: solving multi-step equations and inequalities, graphing
equalities and inequalities, factoring polynomials, solving complex equations, exploring functions and radical, etc. Students may investigate these and many topics
through a discovery learning type setting in which students may work in small groups.
LITTLESTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALGEBRA 1
Subject
Algebra 1
Grade Level
7-9
Title of Unit
Exponents
Time Frame
20
Stage 1 - Desired Results
Established Goals (Learning Outcomes)
What content standards (designate focus standards with an ‘F’) and program- or mission-related goal(s) will this unit address? What habits of mind and cross disciplinary
goals will this unit address (example 21st Century Skills)?
Keystone Standards:
A 1.1.1.1.2
Simplifying Square Roots
A 1.1.1.3.1
Laws of Exponents, roots, and abs
value to solve
Transfer
What kinds of long term independent accomplishments are desired? Students will be able to independently use their learning to…..
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Simplify square roots or expressions using exponent rules
LITTLESTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALGEBRA 1
Meaning
Enduring Understandings
Essential Questions
What understandings about the big ideas are desired? What misunderstandings are
What provocative questions will foster inquiry, meaning-making and transfer?
predictable?
Students will understand that...
Students will keep considering….
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Rules of exponents relate to basic properties of multiplication
The idea of exponents can be extended to include zero and negative
exponents.
Powers of 10 are an easy way to write and compare very large or very small
numbers. Scientific notation is a shorthand way to write numbers using
powers of 10.
Properties of exponents make it easier to simplify products or quotients of
powers with the same base or powers raised to a power or products raised to
a power.
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How do you simplify expressions using exponent rules?
How do you simplify radicals?
How can you represent very large and very small numbers?
Related misconceptions…
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What to do first
Acquisition
What facts and basic concepts should students know and be able to recall? This
What discrete skills and processes should students be able to use? List the skills
content knowledge may come from the established goals or address pre-requisite
and/or behaviors students will be able to exhibit as a result of their work in this
knowledge essential for this unit.
unit.
Students will know...
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How to simplify expressions using exponent rules
How to simplify radicals
How to write and calculate using scientific notation
Students will be skilled at…
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Applying exponent rules
Simplifying radicals
Simplify expressions with Zero and Negative Exponents
Evaluate Exponential Expressions
Write numbers in scientific and standard notation
Use scientific notation
Multiply exponential expressions
Multiply numbers in scientific notation
Raise a Power to a Power
Raise a Product to a Power
LITTLESTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALGEBRA 1
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Divide Powers with the same base
Raise a Quotient to a power
Stage 2 –Evidence
Performance Task
Through what authentic performance task will students demonstrate the desired understandings, knowledge, and skills? By what criteria will performances of
understanding be evaluated? Students will show their learning by…
Performance Tasks
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Ace Problems
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Word Problems/Problem based learning
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Worksheets
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Exit Tickets
Other Evidence
Through what other evidence (work samples, observations, quizzes, tests, journals
or other means) will students demonstrate achievement of the desired results?
Pre-Assessments
Warm-up problems
Exit Tickets
Quizzes
Homework
Unit Tests
Student Self-Assessment
How will students reflect upon or self-assess their learning?
Homework checks
Daily classwork
Closure problems
January 2015
Adapted from: Wiggins, G. and McTighe, J., (1998). Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.