ChalkHour

Year 7 Maths: Simplifying expressions lesson pack

A complete, ready-to-teach KS3 lesson on simplifying expressions. Below is a real sample of what ChalkHour makes: the full pack adds three levels of worksheet, model answers, a teaching explainer and print-ready PDF and Word files.

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Real sample

Simplifying Expressions: Collecting Like Terms

This lesson introduces Year 7 students to the concept of simplifying algebraic expressions by collecting like terms. Students will learn to distinguish between different variables and constants, and how to combine them accurately using directed number rules.

Learning objectives

  • Identify like terms within an algebraic expression.
  • Simplify expressions by collecting like terms involving addition and subtraction.
  • Simplify expressions containing multiple variables and squared terms.

Lesson plan (60 minutes)

  1. Introduction · 5 min

    Do Now: Quick arithmetic retrieval and 'collecting like shapes' (e.g., 3 circles + 2 circles).

  2. Direct Instruction · 10 min

    Teacher Explanation: Introduction to 'like terms' using the fruit bowl analogy and the explainer script.

  3. Guided Practice · 10 min

    Guided Practice: Worked example on the board with student mini-whiteboard responses.

  4. Independent Practice · 20 min

    Independent Practice: Differentiated worksheets (Support, Core, Stretch).

  5. Assessment · 10 min

    Multiple Choice Quiz: To check for understanding and identify remaining misconceptions.

  6. Plenary · 5 min

    Plenary: Summary of key rules and self-assessment against objectives.

Key vocabulary

Variable
A symbol (usually a letter) used to represent a number.
Term
A single part of an expression, separated by + or - signs.
Like Terms
Terms that have the exact same variable part (e.g., 3x and 5x).
Coefficient
The number in front of a variable (e.g., in 4x, 4 is the coefficient).
Constant
A number on its own without a variable.

Core worksheet (first questions)

  1. Simplify 4a + 6b + 3a + 4b
  2. Simplify 2x + 3y + 3x
  3. Simplify 7m - 2n - 3m
  4. Simplify 8p - 5q + 2 - 2p

Quiz (sample)

  1. 1. Simplify 3a + 4a.

    • A. 12a
    • B. 7a^2
    • C. 7a
    • D. 10a

  2. 2. Simplify 2x + 3y + 3x.

    • A. 8xy
    • B. 5x + 3y
    • C. 2x + 3y
    • D. 15xy

  3. 3. Simplify 5m + 5n - 3m.

    • A. 2m + 5n
    • B. 2m - 5n
    • C. 7mn
    • D. 8m + 5n

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