Unit Plan 33 (Grade 6 Math): Expressions & Equations Power-Up

Focus: Spiral practice with exponents/order of operations, generating equivalent expressions, and solving one-step equations/inequalities.

Grade Level: 6

Subject Area: Mathematics (Expressions & Equations — Fluency & Applications)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This power-up week sharpens core expression and equation skills. Students evaluate expressions with whole-number exponents, apply order of operations, generate and justify equivalent expressions using the properties of operations, and solve/interpret one-step equations and inequalities from real contexts. The emphasis is on precision, justification, and unit-sentence explanations.

Essential Questions

• How do exponents and order of operations structure calculations?
• When are two expressions truly equivalent, and how can I prove it?
• What does it mean to solve an equation or graph the solutions to an inequality in context?
• How do I check my work and communicate with clear units?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Evaluate numerical and simple algebraic expressions with exponents and follow order of operations.
2. Write, read, and evaluate expressions; identify parts (terms, factors, coefficients, exponent).
3. Generate equivalent expressions using distributive, commutative, and associative properties; justify equivalence.
4. Write and solve one-step equations and inequalities from real-world contexts; represent solutions on a number line.
5. Explain solutions with a unit sentence and verify by substitution.

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6

• 6.EE.1: Write and evaluate numerical expressions with whole-number exponents.
• 6.EE.2a–c: Write, read, and evaluate expressions; use order of operations; evaluate at specific values.
• 6.EE.3: Apply properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
• 6.EE.4: Determine when two expressions are equivalent.
• 6.EE.5: Understand solving equations/inequalities as a process of reasoning; solutions make the statement true or false.
• 6.EE.6: Use variables to represent numbers; write expressions to describe relationships.
• 6.EE.7: Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving one-step equations.
• 6.EE.8: Write an inequality of the form x > c, x < c, x ≥ c, x ≤ c; graph the solution set on a number line and interpret.
• Mathematical Practices emphasized: MP.1 (make sense), MP.3 (justify), MP.6 (precision), MP.7 (structure), MP.8 (regularity).

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can evaluate 3^2 + 4 × 5 correctly and explain why.
• I can name parts of an expression (like coefficients, terms, factors) and evaluate by substitution.
• I can use the distributive property to show equivalence (for example, 3(x + 4) = 3x + 12) and explain my steps.
• I can solve a one-step equation/inequality, check my work, and write a unit sentence that fits the story.
• I can graph solutions to inequalities on a number line and say what they mean in context.