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Subject: Mathematics
Age of students: 14-15 years
Technology: Small and big cards
Functionalities of Technology: Sending and displaying
Time needed: 60-90 minutes
FaSMEd Partner: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre

Summary
This lesson is about using and applying the laws of exponents. After a short introduction, during which the teacher leads a discussion about powers of 2, the students work in small groups. They are given two sets of small cards. On one set expressions, such as 68 ÷ 64, are given. On the other set single values, such as 64, are given. Students are required to put cards with equivalent value into groups. After the activity the teacher holds a class discussion aiming to draw out something about the students’ own learning and to think about the bigger conceptual issues such as why exponential rules work and if students can find different ways to explain why they work.

Resources

Formative assessment in Science and
Mathematics Education (FaSMEd)
The Research Centre for Learning and Teaching
Newcastle University
NE1 7RU
UK

Email: fasmed@ncl.ac.uk