Gunner Brown

EDU 659 Final Project Application 2

Class: Algebra 1 (9th Grade)

Topic: Synthetic Division of Polynomials
Time: 50 minutes (1 class period)
Previous Knowledge Required: This will be the introductory lesson to synthetic
division. At this point students should feel pretty comfortable with regular long division of
polynomials, meaning they have a good grip on what the problem will look like. The
focus of today is on a different way of dividing polynomials, a way that students seem to
like a little better.
Format: We will start by doing 2 long-division problems as a warm-up. Then students
will watch/participate in a zaption video to introduce the topic of synthetic division. After
watching the video, students will begin by doing the first problem of their worksheet. If
they get that question correct, they can continue working. If they get it wrong, the
student will perform an intervention step of their choosing. Either they can watch a
separate video with a second example, or they can choose to do an example with the
teacher. At the end of the lesson, students will take a 2-question exit slip that the
educator can use to assess learning.

Warm-up (10 minutes):

Complete the following problems by using polynomial long division.
1. ( 2 3x 40) (x + 5)

2. (2 + 5a + 20) (a 3)

Zaption Activity (10 minutes): Ideally the students would have computers and
headphones for this activity, but a smartphone would work as well. Students will work
through the activity at their own pace and answer the questions accordingly. Once
students are done, the teacher can see their responses and use that to help guide
further instruction.
The link for the activity is: http://zapt.io/tvwd9mft

Gunner Brown

EDU 659 Final Project Application 2

Initial check for understanding (5 minutes): Students will be given a 6 problem

worksheet. They are to try the first problem and then check it with the teacher. If they
get it correct, they can continue to work and complete the rest of the problems on their
own. If they get it incorrect, they can choose from two options below.

Algebra

Name: ___________________________

11.5 WS B

Divide using synthetic division.

1.

(2x2 7x + 10) (x 5)

2.

(4x2 13x 5) (x 2)

3.

(x2 + 8x + 1) (x 4)

4.

(x2 + 9) (x 3)

5.

(x3 5x2 2) (x - 4)

6.

(x3 4x + 6) (x + 3)

Gunner Brown

EDU 659 Final Project Application 2

For students who need help (15 min): After the students choose an option, they can
do as much remedial work as they need. Once they feel comfortable, they can go back
to working on the worksheet. They should continue to work with the teacher if they need
help.
Option #1 for help: Students can watch a similar youtube video to the zaption activity
above. There are multiple videos that students can look at until they feel like they have
grasped the material.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ee_huKclEQ (Second example)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLgRS0mUZLw (Third example)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZoMz1Cy1T4 (Fourth example)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nlMXVrgtjw (Why synthetic division works, for
students who like to know the logic of why something works or not).

Option #2 for help: For students who like a little bit more live interaction, they can walk
through several examples with a teacher. These examples will follow the general
pattern of I do, we do, you do so that hopefully the students are scaffolded appropriately
to their ability level. It is hard to write down exactly what examples will be done because
it will be dependent on what the needs of the student are. These examples will be pulled
from the textbook or simply just off-the-cuff.

Final Assessment of Learning (10 minutes): In order to help guide further teaching,
the last thing the students will do is to attempt 2 synthetic division problems as an exit
slip. Students will give these to the teacher on the way out so the teacher can prepare
how to start the next lesson. This should be treated like a formative quiz, meanings
students should work as independently as possible. The point is for the teacher to know
what the students do and dont understand.

Exit Slip

Name: ________________________________

Divide using synthetic division

1.

(3x2 2x + 6) (x + 2)

2.

(x3 2x + 1) (x 1)