Use these pre-algebra worksheets to reinforce essential math skills for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders preparing to take Algebra in the future.
Middle school is a critical time for picking up new math skills and developing existing ones. Whether your students love math class or are nervous about working without a calculator, everyone can benefit from extra pre-algebra practice — especially before the math gets more complex in high school.
Prepare junior high math students for algebra with a collection of pre-algebra worksheets. Perfect for classwork review, homework packets, or math assessments, these worksheets enrich your existing pre-algebra curriculum (or help you build one!) for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math.
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Pre-Algebra Worksheets for 6th Grade
Pre-algebra for 6th graders elevates skills they’ve learned in 5th grade. Based on the Common Core State Standards for math, 5th graders should be proficient in numerical expressions, place value, and adding and subtracting fractions.
In 6th grade pre-algebra, students work on:
- Order of Operations: incorporating PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) when solving algebraic expressions
- Expressions and Equations: solving one-variable equations and learning the difference between dependent and independent variables
- Fractions and Percents: dividing fractions by fractions, finding common factors and multiples, and deepening understanding of the relationship between fractions and percents
If your 6th graders need more practice before they address these pre-algebra skills, consider additional lessons on PEMDAS in equations without variables. Review fraction-to-percent conversion (and percent-to-fraction), and ensure that they understand exponents before moving on to more complex topics.
Use guided notes to teach simplifying algebraic expressions
Guided notes help ensure all students have the necessary information while keeping their focus as they have to add details and complete practice problems. They also teach 6th grade students how to keep organized notes!
Simplifying Algebraic Expressions – Notes, Practice, and Application Pack
By Math in the Middle
Standards: 6.EE.A.3
This notes pack includes a page of guided notes (that students can glue in their math notebooks or include in their math binders), a skills practice worksheet, and an application practice worksheet. Problems include negative numbers, too.
Curate creative math lessons with a color-by-number worksheet
Combine art and math with a cross-curricular color-by-number worksheet that lets students get creative while learning an important pre-algebra concept. Since a color-by-number is pretty self-explanatory, this type of worksheet is great as a substitute teacher activity or fast finisher.
Order of Operations Worksheets Math Color by Number Activity w Digital Resources
By Cognitive Cardio Math
Standards: CCSS 6.EE.A.1
This order of operations color-by-number set includes three different worksheet versions. Each version consists of a separate question and coloring page, so students have room to show their work.
Use doodle notes for interactive review sessions
Keep students engaged in fraction review with guided doodle notes that tap into visual learning skills. Provide fun pens and markers to get students excited about group or independent review sessions.
Dividing Fractions Guided Interactive Doodle Notes + Fraction Division Worksheet
By Math Giraffe
Standards: CCSS 5.NF.B.3, 4a, 6
This set of doodle notes includes three pages that cover process, examples, and concepts related to dividing fractions. Specific concepts covered are reciprocals, multiplying fractions, writing mixed number and simplest form answers, and dividing mixed numbers, whole numbers, and fractions.
7th Grade Pre-Algebra Worksheets
Pre-algebra skills begin in earnest when math students enter 7th grade. They should already know basic formulas from elementary school, including perimeter and area formulas, as well as fundamental ratio reasoning.
They’ll expand on these skills with important pre-algebra concepts in 7th grade, including:
- Formulas: connecting expressions and order of operations with common formulas needed to solve algebraic equations, including working with rational numbers and fractions
- Ratios and Proportional Relationships: solving real-world and mathematical problems based on knowledge of proportional relationships
- Statistics and Probability: using an understanding of statistics to draw inferences and make generalizations about more than one population
Seventh graders needing review can readdress one-variable equations and PEMDAS before diving into more complex concepts. If your 7th graders need more of a challenge, introduce multi-step equations with variables on both sides, and have them analyze the relationships between each part of an algebraic expression.
Provide plenty of room to show work on worksheets
Pre-algebra math problems often involve multiple steps, and having students show their work is integral to understanding whether they’ve mastered the process. Worksheets built with lots of room to show work can help students feel more confident about their answers.
Simplifying Expressions Practice Worksheet Bundle
By Math With Ms Yi
Standards: CCSS 7.EE.A.1, 7.EE.A.2
This bundle of four worksheets, each with 24 or more questions, covers distributing with negatives, combining like terms with rational numbers, combining like terms with whole numbers, and distributing expressions with whole numbers. Problems are presented on the left side of the worksheet with more than half of the worksheet dedicated to space for showing work.
Get students organized with binder notes
Most 7th grade classes teach beyond their subjects to really solidify organizational skills needed for 8th grade and high school success. Printable binder notes make lesson planning easy and show students how to organize their binders with color coding.
Grade 7 Math – Solving Proportions Binder Notes Worksheet
By iteachalgebra
This set of double-sided print-and-go notes is designed to be added to a binder for a middle school math class. Guided notes include determining if two ratios form a proportion, solving a proportion, and solving proportion word problems.
Use images to illustrate complex concepts
Fun pictures — especially when they involve food — are an easy way to help show students a new math concept. This independent worksheet is sweet when you need a sub activity or a fast finisher!
Theoretical and Experimental Probability Worksheet
By The Sassy Math Teacher
Standards: VA SOL PS.7.8.a, PS.7.8.b
Students practice calculating theoretical and experimental probability with this donut-themed activity that includes a total of 20 questions. You’ll also get student and teacher instructions, the option to print or use a digital version, and a PowerPoint.
Pre-Algebra Worksheets for 8th Grade
By 8th grade, pre-algebra students should be almost ready to tackle high-school-level algebra problems. They can already add, subtract, and multiply fractions and rational numbers, generate equivalent expressions, and use statistics to make and support mathematical claims.
In 8th grade pre-algebra, students work on:
- Functions: evaluating and defining functions, and using functions to model linear relationships on a graph
- Radicals and integer exponents: using integer exponents and radicals to represent numerical expressions
- Linear Equations: solving linear equations in one variable and/or with rational number coefficients, and graphing coordinate pairs to estimate a solution
Advanced 8th grade math students may be ready for geometry concepts they’ll see in high school, including the Pythagorean Theorem and congruent figures. For 8th graders who need more review before they start Algebra, work on identifying functions and telling the difference between rational and irrational numbers.
Simplify the lesson with yes or no answers only
By 8th grade, students know it’s important to show their work in math class. Surprise them with a simple worksheet that doesn’t require showing any work every once in a while to keep them on their toes! A worksheet with few words can serve as an easy way to review and determine if students understand the concept.
Identifying Functions | Function or Not a Function Practice Worksheet
By Algebra Accents
Students will identify functions in 20 yes/no format problems with multiple representations of function relations such as tables, mapping diagrams, graphs, and ordered pairs. The provided answer key makes it just as easy for you to grade!
Use a discovery approach instead of rote memorization
Memorization techniques work well for some topics but not others. When you get into more complex pre-algebra topics, try the discovery approach with guided notes to add meaning to the subject.
Exponents Rules Guided Notes and Practice Worksheets 8th Grade Math
By Rise over Run
Standards: CCSS 8.EE.A.1
Help students discover the laws of exponents! This pack includes guided notes and practice for the product rule, power rule, quotient rule, and integer exponents. Each lesson has notes and practice. Answer keys with teacher notes are provided, too.
Make the work the star of the show
Sometimes, seeing students’ work is more important than seeing correct answers. As you teach a new pre-algebra skill, use worksheets with ample space for students to show their work, so you can see where they might be getting stuck.
Solving Multi Step Equations with Variables on One Side Worksheet Pre Algebra
By Math with Ms. Rivera
Standards: CCSS 8.EE.C.7, 8.EE.C.7b
Help your students practice solving multistep equations with variables on one side with this 16-question, no-prep worksheet! The multistep equations include combining like terms, distributive property, and multiplying by reciprocals with the variable on one side. The equations use positive and negative integers and fractional coefficients.
What is pre-algebra?
Pre-algebra is a foundational math course that takes concepts covered in elementary school, like fractions, percents, and probability, and has students use them in new ways, including algebraic expressions, proportional relationships, and linear equations.
Most math students take pre-algebra (or equivalent classes) in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. The Common Core State Standards for math weave algebraic skills into students’ learning expectations as early as kindergarten, so middle schoolers should already have the knowledge they need to begin pre-algebra. Some pre-algebra classes also integrate geometry skills, such as area, perimeter, and angles in two-and three-dimensional shapes.
The most important purpose of a pre-algebra unit is to prepare students for the next step in their mathematical education. Whether they’re a 6th grader preparing for 7th grade algebra or an 8th grader reinforcing pre-algebra skills before high school, a robust pre-algebra curriculum can help them reach their goals!
Prepare for algebra with pre-algebra worksheets from TPT
Pre-algebra courses cover a lot of math concepts that build upon each other as students progress. Use pre-algebra resources from TPT Teacher-Authors to build a lesson, a course, or even a full-year curriculum!
