MathStar Research Lesson Template

Comments:
Harrisons student population is 594. 85% Hispanic, 12% Anglo, 3% Asian, African American, Native American, Free and
Reduced Lunch is 93%.

I. Description of Unit:
This lesson will be an intro to building formulas. Students will continue the natural process by learning how to substitute
variables, work with concrete verse abstract concepts, and continue algebraic concepts .
A. How does this lesson fit into the unit?

▪ Previously learned concepts
Students will need to know basic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as well
as reading, writing, and sequence of events. They will need to have some experience with Order of Operations ,
Distributive Property , grouping , simplifying, solving for unknowns , multiplying decimals, formulas, and
variables.

▪ Concepts to be learned in this lesson
Order of operations, combining like terms, and discovering multiple ways to solve problems are just a few of
the concepts students will be learning in this lesson. Eighth grade is the grade level that we need our students to
begin developing their algebraic thinking.

▪ Concepts to be used in future lessons
For future lessons and extensions, students will formalize the distributive property, arrive at formulas on their
own, reinforce the order of operations , and continue to work with combining like terns .

B. Instructional sequence for unit
This unit is being introduced the 4^th week of the last 9 weeks. The lesson is a continuum of the algebraic process and will be a
springboard for formalizing the distributive property . Students will derive at formulas while working with variables and formulas.

II. Plan of the research lesson

A. Goals of the research lesson:
The goals for this lesson are for students to multiply decimals, combine like terms, correctly label units, substitution with
variables, and solve equations .

B. How does the lesson fit into the overarching lesson study goal?
The lesson will fit into the overarching goal by helping them make the leap from concrete to abstract thinking because
they are working with things they are familiar with. Hopefully, the lesson will lead students toward mastery of solving
variables. We want the students to see why variables are important with real world application. Students will combine
like terms and all these things should help to make our students better prepared for high school.

C. Steps of the research lesson: (See attached table)

D. Things to prepare /materials:
The things that require preparation are:
• Permission slips for filming
• Transparencies and visa-v pens
• Handouts
• Copies of the student handout
• Large paper to display student findings
• Markers
• Overhead menu