ALEX Learning Activity

  

Order of Operations

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Emily Fogleman
System:Hoover City
School:Brock's Gap Intermediate School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 1627
Title:
Order of Operations
Digital Tool/Resource:
Mr. Nussbaum's Order Ops Game
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This online game requires students to save seven members of a Royal Family from prison by using their order of operation skills to build stairways leading to their secret cells.

This learning activity was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science University, GEMS-U Project.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 5
1. Write, explain, and evaluate simple numerical expressions involving the four operations to solve up to two-step problems. Include expressions involving parentheses, brackets, or braces, using commutative, associative, and distributive properties.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
When given a mathematical expression in words, will
  • Write numerical expressions to represent the context and evaluate the expression.
  • Explain their thinking as they use the order of operations to evaluate a variety of problems.
Given a numerical expression involving multiple operations and up to two sets of grouping symbols, will
  • Evaluate the expression.
  • Explain the meaning of the expression without evaluating the expression.
Note: Expressions should not contain nested grouping symbols, should be limited to expressions found in application of associative or distributive properties, and not always limited to whole numbers.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Expression
  • Calculate
  • Interpret
  • Evaluate
  • Compare
  • Reasoning
  • Grouping symbol
  • Parentheses
  • Braces
  • Brackets
  • Commutative property
  • Associative property
  • Distributive property
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Vocabulary associated with the four operations to write the symbolic notation of the mathematical expression.
    Example: The phrase, "the product of 4 and 3" is written as "4 x 3."
  • Strategies for evaluating a numerical expression and replace it with an equivalent form.
    Example: Given (22 + 16) + 43 can be replaced with 38 + 43 and then further simplified.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Write, explain, and evaluate numerical expressions representing two-step problems in context.
  • Evaluate numerical expressions with grouping symbols.
  • Translate a numerical expression into words.
  • Write a numerical expression given a mathematical expression in words.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • multi-step word problems can be represented by numerical expressions using operations and grouping symbols to indicate order of evaluating them.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.5.1.1: Define parentheses, braces, and brackets.
M.5.1.2: Distinguish between non-numerical and numerical expression.
M.5.1.3: Recognize expressions.
M.5.1.4: Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract.
M.5.1.5: Represent addition and subtraction with objects, mental images, drawings, expressions, or equations.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Write, explain, and evaluate numerical expressions representing two-step problems in context.
  • Evaluate numerical expressions with grouping symbols.
  • Translate a numerical expression into words.
  • Write a numerical expression given a mathematical expression in words.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.5.1 Evaluate simple numerical expressions involving the four operations.
Learning Objectives:

Students will solve expressions with multiple operations. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

This learning activity is designed to give students an opportunity to practice solving equations using the order of operations in a fun and engaging way. 

1. If technology equipment allows, the teacher should first launch the game for students to view and model selecting a character and solving an equation using the game.

*Note that students must solve the equation one step at a time, and the game will NOT tell students if they have chosen the correct part of the equation to solve next. 

2. Students launch the game and play independently or with a partner. Although this is an online resource, encourage students to record their work using pencil and paper. 

**This resource capitalizes on students' natural interest in math and provides feedback after each equation is solved. 
Assessment Strategies:

Students who complete the game are generally considered successful at solving order of operations equations. After playing the game, students could be given a follow-up exit ticket to ensure understanding and transfer of skills from digital to written. 
Advanced Preparation:

Ensure that student/teacher devices are compatible with this game before the lesson, and also have scratch paper available for students to use during the game. 

The teacher may also watch the "How-To" video located at the top of the page to become familiar with the game before demonstrating to students. 
Variation Tips (optional):

While a digital version of the order of operations may be engaging and exciting for some students, it may overwhelm others. For students who may be struggling, complete this activity in a small group where the group works through the levels of the game together. Students may use dry erase boards, paper etc. to solve the problems as the group works through them together. 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: