Lesson Plan #1 Title: Rules of Exponents and Simplifying Radicals

Performance Objective:

Performance Objective 1: Given a list of the 8 rules of exponents, students will match

examples of the rules of exponents with the corresponding rule with no more than 2

mistakes.

Performance Objective 2: Given a calculator, students will simplify an algebraic

expression using the rules of exponents correctly in 2 out of 3 questions on a quiz.

Performance Objective 7: Given a calculator, students will simplify square roots

correctly in 2 out of 3 questions on a quiz.

Resources or Materials Needed:

 Computer, projector, document camera

 Warm- up Activity (displayed on document camera)

 Rules of Exponents Worksheet

 Radical Go Fish Game

 Exit Activity

(See instructional material page for all activities)

Time: 75 minutes

Step 1: Pre-Instructional Activities:

Warm-up activity (5 min)

1. Simplify 𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥 5

a. 𝑥10 b. 𝑥 7 c. 𝑥 3 d. 2𝑥 7

𝑥7
2. Simplify 𝑥 4

a. 𝑥 3 b. 𝑥11 c. 𝑥 −3 d. 3
 3. Simplify (𝑥 2 )4

a. 𝑥 6 b. 𝑥 8 c. 𝑥16 d. 𝑥 2

4. Simplify 𝑥 −5

𝑥 1 5
a. 𝑥 5 b. 5 c. 𝑥 5 d. 𝑥

5. Simplify (2𝑥)3

a. 2𝑥 2 b. 8𝑥 c. 6𝑥 3 d. 8𝑥 3

Step 2: Content Presentation:

Go over answers for the warm-up activity (5 min)

As a class complete the rules of exponents worksheet. (10 min)

Include but not limited to the following examples:

 𝑥3 ∙ 𝑥2

𝑥7
 𝑥3

 (𝑥 3 )4

 (3𝑥)2

5 3
 (𝑥)

 5𝑥 −6
4
 𝑦 −3

 93 (rewrite to the base of 3)

 𝑥1
1
 162
5
 √𝑥 2

Go over the following examples of simplifying radicals: (10 min)

  √288

 √720

 √400

 √320

 √1350

Step 3: Learner Participation:

For practice in identifying the rules of exponents have students play the “Live” mode of Quizlet

Rules of Exponents. (To access to the Quizlet flash cards: https://quizlet.com/_4zz23t)

For practice on simplifying radicals, students play the Radical Go Fish Game (25 min)

Student completes and turns in exit ticket (10 min)

Step 4: Assessment:

Complete online quiz though homework software outside of class, quiz will contain problems

similar to the lecture. (See assessment page on website)

Step 5: Follow-Through Activities:

During the College Algebra course students will use the knowledge of rules of exponents and

simplifying radicals to solve exponential equations.

Lesson Plan Summary:

This lesson will focus on simplifying basic expression using the rules of exponents as

well as simplifying radical expressions. The warm-up activity is designed to inform the instructor

on the base knowledge of the students. This will be followed by a brief discussion over the 9

rules of exponents and changing bases. After the class discussion, students work in groups to

match the rules of exponents correctly using the “Live” mode of Quizlet. The class will then be

brought back together for a class discussion over simplifying radical expressions. Students will
then be broken into groups of 3 or 4 to play the game Radical Go Fish. The students will be

given 20 minutes to play the game. In the last 10 minutes of class students will complete an exit

ticket over both simplifying expressions and radicals.