Expressions Applications - Can you apply expressions to area and perimeter?

• Opener:  As students enter the room, they will immediately pick up and begin working on the opener.  Please see my instructional strategy clip for how openers work in my classroom (Instructional Strategy - Process for openers).  This method of working and going over the opener lends itself to allow students to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, which is mathematical practice 3.  
• Learning Target:  After completion of the opener, I will address the day’s learning targets to the students.  In today’s lesson, the intended target is, “I can express area and perimeter in terms of a variable by simplifying expressions.” Students will jot the learning target down in their agendas (our version of a student planner, there is a place to write the learning target for every day). 

Expressions Applications Notes: Expressions Applications Explore Narrative

White Board Practice: Instead of my traditional table challenge, today students each student will complete the practice problems on their own mini whiteboard. This will give me a good idea of the individual understanding that is taking place. Students will still be permitted and encouraged to talk with their table mates, but I want to see each student work the problems out (persevere with problem solving, mathematical practice 1). These problems will require students pay close attention to precision – signs, distributing properly – which is mathematical practice 6. This particular skill (simplifying expressions) is so crucial to moving forward with mathematics that I want to make sure all students are on target, and that I identify any misconceptions early.

Instructional Strategy - Table Discussion Students will discuss the scenario problem given as a table, and determine whether the student has answered the question accurately or not.  I will call on several tables to share their thoughts, and their reasoning as to why they think it is right or wrong.

Homework:  After the table discussion, I will pass out the assignment and allow students to begin working.  This assignment includes simplifying expressions, perimeter, word problems, and distributive property.  The assignment is a good review of topics learned so far in the unit. Philosophy on Homework