Exponential Functions Unit Algebra 1 Curriculum

A full Algebra 1 unit on exponential functions: exponent properties, scientific notation, and exponential growth and decay, including compound interest. It was fully updated in 2026, and every question and note is editable, so you can adjust it for your students.

The pacing guide lays the unit out over 16 days for 30 to 45 minute on-level classes. On a block schedule or with an advanced class, you can combine days.

Lessons

• Unit prep: pre-assessment
• Lesson 1: Properties of Products
• Lesson 2: Properties of Quotients
• Lesson 3: Zero and Negative Exponents
• Lesson 4: Exponent Rules Review and Quiz
• Lesson 5: Scientific Notation and Operations with Scientific Notation
• Lesson 6: Exponential Growth and Decay, including Compound Interest
• End of unit: study guide and unit exam

What’s included

• Day-by-day pacing guide
• Weekly warm up sheet, exit ticket sheets, lesson plan template and vocabulary sheets
• Pre-assessment, two quizzes (Rules of Exponents and Scientific Notation), study guide and unit exam
• Warm ups and exit tickets for every lesson
• Notes and practice worksheets for every lesson
• Student tracking pages
• Binder covers and spine labels
• Answer key
• A 61-page PDF of the unit
• An editable PowerPoint version of the unit

The unit also comes with a folder of supplemental activities:

• Properties of Products Coloring Page
• Properties of Quotients Coloring Page
• Zero and Negative Exponents Riddle
• Scientific Notation Riddle
• Scientific Notation Coloring Worksheet
• Scientific Notation Matching Activity, in print and Google versions
• Exponents and Scientific Notation PowerPoint Review Game
• Compound Interest Scavenger Hunt, in print and digital versions

Good to know

• You need PowerPoint to use the editable file. Instructions for editing are in the download.
• All questions and notes are editable. Copyright information, backgrounds, formatting and graphics are not.

Quick facts

• Topic: exponent properties, scientific notation, exponential growth and decay
• Grades: 7–10
• CCSS: 8.EE.A.1, 8.EE.A.3, 8.EE.A.4, HSN-RN.A.2, HSF-LE.A.1c, HSF-LE.A.2
• Pacing: 16 days
• Answer key: included

Bundles and related resources

If you want the digital version of this resource, it is the Exponential Functions Digital Interactive Notebook for Algebra 1.

This unit is part of my Algebra 1 Curriculum. All of the curriculum units:

• Unit 1: Rational Numbers Review Unit
• Unit 2: Simplifying Expressions Review Unit
• Unit 3: Solving Equations
• Unit 4: Linear Functions
• Unit 5: Inequalities
• Unit 6: Linear Systems
• Unit 7: Exponential Functions
• Unit 8: Simplifying and Factoring Polynomials
• Unit 9: Quadratic Functions and Equations

Free resources

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Terms of use

By purchasing this product, you own a license for one teacher only for personal use in their own classroom. Licenses are non-transferable and therefore can not be passed from one teacher to another. If the teacher who purchased this license leaves the classroom or changes schools, the license and materials leave with that teacher. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire team, grade level, school or district without purchasing the correct number of licenses. If you are a coach, principal or district interested in transferable licenses that would accommodate yearly staff changes, please contact me for a transferable license quote at lindsay@beyondtheworksheet.com.

© Beyond the Worksheet. Please note – all material included in this resource belongs to Beyond the Worksheet Inc. By purchasing, you have a license to use the material but you do not own the material. You may not upload any portion of this resource to the internet in any format, including school/personal websites or network drives unless the site is password protected and can only be accessed by students, not other teachers or anyone else on the internet.