Powers and Exponents: Repeated Multiplication

About This Resource

A free Grade 6 lesson and worksheet on exponents: base and exponent, writing repeated multiplication as a power, evaluating powers, squares and cubes, powers of 10, and exponents in the order of operations. Includes a timed lesson plan, worksheet, editable Word version and answer key.

Overview

Students learn that an exponent is a short way to write repeated multiplication: 3⁴ means 3 × 3 × 3 × 3. They name the base and the exponent, write expressions in exponent form and expanded form, evaluate powers, learn square and cube numbers and the pattern of powers of 10, avoid the common mistake of multiplying the base by the exponent, and use exponents in the order of operations.

Resource Details

Subject: Math
Topic: Exponents
Category: Number Sense
File Type: PDF
File Size: 234.7 KB
Published: 30 Oct 2026
Downloads: 1

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Grade 6 (ages 11–12) 45 minutes Exponents multiplication number patterns order of operations

Student Task

Write 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 on the board and ask students for a shorter way to write it.
Teach base, exponent and the common mistake (2³ is 8, not 6), then do activity 1 together.
Students complete activities 2 to 5; answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

Paper folding: fold a sheet in half again and again and count the layers (2, 4, 8, 16 …) to see powers of 2.
Square and cube models: build squares and cubes from unit cubes to show 3² = 9 and 3³ = 27.
Powers of 10 place value: write 10¹ to 10⁶ in standard form and look for the pattern of zeros.

Differentiation

Support: use calculators to check and focus on squares and cubes. Challenge: explore what 2⁰ and 10⁰ equal and explain the pattern.

Answer Key & Assessment

Activity 1 checks evaluating powers; activities 2 to 5 check notation, patterns and order of operations (answer key included).

Learning Objectives

Identify the base and exponent and write repeated multiplication as a power.
Evaluate powers, including squares, cubes and powers of 10.
Use exponents correctly in the order of operations.

Teacher Tips

Watch for students who multiply the base by the exponent (3⁴ = 12). Ask them to write the expanded form first every time until it becomes automatic.

What's Included

6-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (4 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (5 activities)
Editable Word version of the worksheet
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)