Order of Operations Lesson Plan: Expressions and Equations

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Order of Operations Lesson Plan. 

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Order of Operations, and supports the standard of performing arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students to think of a situation where they must complete a task in a specific order, like following a recipe. Ask:

  • What might happen if you completed the steps in a different order? 

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Order of Operations topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the following articles: “Dollars and Cents” or “Do It!” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign Order of Operations Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about the order of operations while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a tutorial explaining how to use PEMDAS to solve a problem. 
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map sequencing the order of operations using PEMDAS to solve 23-5 + (1 +20)/ 3.
  • Creative Coding: Code a math problem that a partner must use PEMDAS to solve. 

More to Explore 

Math Snacks: Agrinautica: Create gorgeous plants, fungi, animals, crystals, and artifacts using math expressions in this interactive game. 

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    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, 9-12, BrainPOP, Lesson Ideas, Lesson Plan, Order of Operations