Here are my adding and subtracting polynomial notes from Algebra 2.
Nothing super exciting here. I mainly did this to emphasize the importance of always using parentheses and what it means to distribute a negative.
Kids always seem to make mistakes with both. This is a specific skill that is tested in Algebra 1 in Oklahoma at the moment.
My Algebra 2 students are really struggling with the idea of combining like terms this year. Next year, I need to make this a skill to review before our polynomial chapter!

Fill in the blank notes. (For the record, I didn’t get this typed and printed in time, so my students had to hand-write the 5 steps. But, I went ahead and typed it out so I would have it for next year.)
Just the steps:
Example 1:
Example 2:
In the past, I’ve done this activity with my students to practice this, but I decided to skip it this year.
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More Activities for Teaching Polynomials
- X Puzzles Factoring Review Game
- Quadratic Area Puzzles
- Shared Factors – A Quadratics Puzzle
- Naming Polynomials Poster
- “Polly”nomial
- Naming Polynomials Speed Dating Activity
- Dividing Polynomials Using the Box Method Puzzles
- Area Model Puzzles from Christie Bradshaw
- Adding and Subtracting Polynomials Graphic Organizer
- Writing Polynomials in Standard Form Foldable
- Factoring Quadratics Foldable
- Multiplying Polynomials Foldable
- Naming Polynomials Practice Sheet
- Polynomial or Not Color Coding Activity
- Polynomial Frayer Model Template
- Roots Solutions Zeros X-Intercepts Posters
- Multiplying Polynomials Egg Hunt Activity
- Human Polynomials Activity
- Introducing Algebra Tiles to Students
- Building and Naming Polynomials Activity
- Factoring Trinomials with GCFs Question Stack Activity
- Factoring Polynomials Using the Box Method Directions
- Looking for Patterns in Factoring Quadratics
- Factoring Quadratics Question Stack Activity
- Dividing Polynomials Using the Box Method Activity
- Dividing Polynomials Using the Box Method Foldable
- Multiplying Polynomials Using the Box Method Foldable
- Adding and Subtracting Polynomials Notes
- Parts of a Polynomial Practice Book
- Standard Form of a Polynomial Interactive Notebook Page
- Factoring out the GCF of a Polynomial Foldable
- Factoring vs Distributing Card Sort Activity
- Factoring Quadratics Using the Box Method Foldable
- Naming Polynomials Graphic Organizer
- Factoring Quadratics Graphic Organizers
- Adding and Subtracting Polynomials Activity