Power Up: Understanding Exponents! Script

Warm-Up: Repeated Multiplication (5 minutes)

"Good morning, future mathematicians! Let's kick off our math adventure today with a quick warm-up. On your warm-up sheet, you'll see a couple of multiplication problems. Take about 2-3 minutes to solve them. Don't worry if you see something a little different; just do your best with what you know!"

(Allow students time to complete the Multiplication Warm-Up.)

"Alright, let's look at problem #1: 2 x 2 x 2. Who can tell me what you got? (Pause for answers, guide to 8). Excellent! And for problem #2: 3 x 3? (Pause for answers, guide to 9). Fantastic!

Did anyone notice anything interesting about these problems? (Pause for responses). You got it! We were multiplying the same number by itself, multiple times. Today, we're going to learn a super cool shortcut for writing those kinds of problems. It's called using exponents!"

Introduction to Exponents (10 minutes)

"(Display Power Up: Exponents Slides - Slide 2) So, what exactly is an exponent? An exponent is just a fancy way of saying we're using a shortcut for repeated multiplication. Instead of writing 2 x 2 x 2, we can write it like this: 2³."

"(Display Power Up: Exponents Slides - Slide 3) Every exponential expression has two important parts: the base and the exponent.

"The base is the big number at the bottom. It's the number that is being multiplied by itself. For example, in 5², the 5 is our base. In 3⁴, the 3 is our base."

"The exponent is the small number floating up high. It tells us how many times we multiply the base by itself. So, in 5², the 2 is our exponent. It tells us to multiply 5 by itself two times. In 3⁴, the 4 is our exponent, telling us to multiply 3 by itself four times."

"How do we read these? 5² is read as 'five squared' or 'five to the power of two.' 3⁴ is read as 'three to the fourth power.' Has anyone heard these terms before? (Pause for brief discussion)."

"(Display Power Up: Exponents Slides - Slide 4) Now, let's try calculating! If we have 2³, we know 2 is the base and 3 is the exponent. So, it means 2 multiplied by itself 3 times: 2 x 2 x 2. Let's do it: 2 times 2 is 4, and 4 times 2 is 8. So, 2³ equals 8."

"What about 4²? Who can tell me what the base is? (4). And the exponent? (2). So, how many times do we multiply 4 by itself? (2 times). That's 4 x 4, which equals? (16). Great job!"

"Important point: Remember, 2³ does NOT mean 2 x 3! It means 2 x 2 x 2. And 4² does NOT mean 4 x 2! It means 4 x 4. This is a common mistake, so let's make sure we remember the difference!"

"Any questions about the parts of an exponent or how to calculate simple ones? (Address questions, re-explain as needed)."

Guided Practice: Exponent Explorer (10 minutes)

"(Display Power Up: Exponents Slides - Slide 5) You're doing awesome! Now it's your turn to be Exponent Explorers. I'm going to hand out the Exponent Explorer Worksheet. We'll do the first couple of problems together."

(Distribute Exponent Explorer Worksheet.)

"Look at problem #1. We have 5³. What's our base? (5). What's our exponent? (3). So, how do we write this as repeated multiplication? (5 x 5 x 5). And what's the value? 5 x 5 is 25, and 25 x 5 is 125. So, 5³ = 125."

"Let's try problem #2. 3². Base? (3). Exponent? (2). Repeated multiplication? (3 x 3). Value? (9). Perfect!"

"Now, I want you to work on the rest of the worksheet. You can work with a partner or independently. I'll be walking around to help if you have any questions or get stuck. Remember to show your repeated multiplication step!"

(Circulate, provide individual support, address misconceptions like base x exponent. Remind students to write out the expanded form before calculating.)

Wrap-Up & Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

"(Display Power Up: Exponents Slides - Slide 6) Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. You've done a fantastic job powering up your math skills today! Can someone remind us, in your own words, what an exponent is? (Pause for answers, guide to 'a shortcut for repeated multiplication')."

"And what are the two main parts of an exponential expression? (Base and exponent). What does the base tell us? (The number being multiplied). And the exponent? (How many times to multiply the base by itself). Excellent!

To finish up, I have a quick Exponent Exit Ticket for you. This will help me see what you've learned today. Please complete it independently. When you're done, turn it in to me. Thank you for being such great Exponent Explorers!"

Multiplication Warm-Up

Instructions: Solve the following multiplication problems.

1. 2 x 2 x 2 =
   
   
   

2. 3 x 3 =
   
   
   

3. 10 x 10 x 10 =
   
   
   

Exponent Explorer Worksheet

Instructions: For each problem, identify the base and the exponent, write the expression as repeated multiplication, and then calculate the value.

Example:

2³

• Base: 2
• Exponent: 3
• Repeated Multiplication: 2 x 2 x 2
• Value: 8

Problems:

1. 5³

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

2. 3²

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

3. 10⁴

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

4. 4³

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

5. 6²

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

6. 1⁷

   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

7. Write your own exponential expression and solve it!

   • Expression:
     
     
     
   • Base:
     
     
     
   • Exponent:
     
     
     
   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value:
     
     
     

Exponent Explorer Answer Key

Multiplication Warm-Up Answers

1. 2 x 2 x 2 = 8

   • Thought Process: 2 times 2 is 4, then 4 times 2 is 8.

2. 3 x 3 = 9

   • Thought Process: 3 times 3 is 9.

3. 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000

   • Thought Process: 10 times 10 is 100, then 100 times 10 is 1000.

Exponent Explorer Worksheet Answers

Instructions: For each problem, identify the base and the exponent, write the expression as repeated multiplication, and then calculate the value.

Problems:

1. 5³

   • Base: 5
   • Exponent: 3
   • Repeated Multiplication: 5 x 5 x 5
   • Value: 125
   • Thought Process: The base is 5 and the exponent is 3. This means we multiply 5 by itself 3 times. 5 x 5 = 25. Then, 25 x 5 = 125.

2. 3²

   • Base: 3
   • Exponent: 2
   • Repeated Multiplication: 3 x 3
   • Value: 9
   • Thought Process: The base is 3 and the exponent is 2. This means we multiply 3 by itself 2 times. 3 x 3 = 9.

3. 10⁴

   • Base: 10
   • Exponent: 4
   • Repeated Multiplication: 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
   • Value: 10,000
   • Thought Process: The base is 10 and the exponent is 4. This means we multiply 10 by itself 4 times. 10 x 10 = 100. 100 x 10 = 1,000. 1,000 x 10 = 10,000.

4. 4³

   • Base: 4
   • Exponent: 3
   • Repeated Multiplication: 4 x 4 x 4
   • Value: 64
   • Thought Process: The base is 4 and the exponent is 3. This means we multiply 4 by itself 3 times. 4 x 4 = 16. Then, 16 x 4 = 64.

5. 6²

   • Base: 6
   • Exponent: 2
   • Repeated Multiplication: 6 x 6
   • Value: 36
   • Thought Process: The base is 6 and the exponent is 2. This means we multiply 6 by itself 2 times. 6 x 6 = 36.

6. 1⁷

   • Base: 1
   • Exponent: 7
   • Repeated Multiplication: 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
   • Value: 1
   • Thought Process: The base is 1 and the exponent is 7. This means we multiply 1 by itself 7 times. Any number of 1s multiplied together will always be 1.

Exponent Exit Ticket

Instructions: Please answer the following questions to show what you learned about exponents today.

1. What is an exponent? (Use your own words!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. In the expression 7⁵:

   • What is the base?
     
     
     
     
   • What is the exponent?
     
     
     
     

3. Write 3⁴ as repeated multiplication and find its value.

   • Repeated Multiplication:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Value: