When students start to learn the order of operations, it marks a big leap in the development of their math skills. They’re going from doing one operation at a time to performing a whole series of operations, and this can be a bit difficult to teach and grasp. That’s why it’s important to teach the topic using several different methods and activities so that the concept can really stick and be correctly applied with plenty of practice. Here, we’ve compiled a list of twelve fun activities to help your students learn, practice, and master the order of operations!
1. Video Lesson: Intro to Order of Operations
This video is a great introduction to any order of operations lesson. The video is engaging, and the concepts are explained with just the right amount of detail. Plus, the language in the video is age and level-appropriate for fifth and sixth-grade students.
Learn More: YouTube
2. “Talking Calculators” Worksheet
With this worksheet activity in class, students solve a series of PEMDAS problems. Then, based on their answers, they fill in the blanks to tell a story. So, the story acts as the answer key, and students can easily monitor their own progress and mastery with this order of operations fun activity.
Learn More: The Mail Box
3. Order of Operations Puzzle: Three Challenge
This critical thinking activity requires students to put the correct signs of operations into the sequence of operations, but every number in every sequence is three! Students play around with PEMDAS in order to find the right sign of operation for each spot so that they can come up with the indicated answer.
Learn More: Math Equals Love
4. Order of Operations Error Analysis Task
In this error analysis activity, students have to find and correct the mistakes in the given expressions. Then, they should change the expression around to show the correct answer instead of the incorrect answer. This works well as a review activity right before the exam, or as practice for more advanced students.
Learn More: Math Geek Mama
5. PEMDAS Music Video
When it comes to order of operations activities, this one has got to be the catchiest! Simply play this groovy music video for your kiddos that explains the order of operations and that will also help them remember the correct sequence.
Learn More: YouTube
6. Order of Operations Football Board Game
In this fun partner activity, students play one-on-one football. You give each pair a deck of cards, and they have to maximize the yards that they can travel along the printable football field game board. It’s an exciting activity since kids take turns moving the “ball” up and down the “field”; the first one to score a “touchdown” is the winner!
Learn More: The Mail Box
7. Foldable Notes and Study Guide
Students can create their own order of operation resources with these interactive notebook sequences of operations activities. Printable and foldable note-taking guides help students build a whole repository of review materials that they can use to understand the topic at a deeper level and to keep the concepts fresh in their minds throughout the whole semester.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
8. Classroom Poster
This classroom poster is the perfect way to present the order of operations concept for students in a clear and concise way. It’s also beneficial for students to be able to see and remember the PEMDAS sequence; especially as the level of complexity of the equations and expressions increases throughout the semester.
Learn More: Amazon
9. Order Ops Royal Rescue Online Game
This is an activity students will love playing at home. Each learner becomes a knight in the “Order of Operations”, and they must rescue a princess by solving a series of questions about PEMDAS. The questions get more challenging as the quest progresses, and the plethora of questions offers a lot of great practice with the topic.
Learn More: Mr. Nuss Baum
10. Order of Operations Ladder Activity
In this individual activity, students cut and paste colorful paper to make a chain of correct answers. The order of operations steps must be followed carefully so that all of the ladder’s rungs end up in the correct position. You simply print the “rungs” on one piece of paper, and then students get to have all the fun with cutting, pasting, and solving the expressions.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
11. Martian Hoverboards Online Game
In this fast-paced game, students have to quickly give the correct answer to the given order of operations problem. If not, their martian character falls down! It’s a race that relies on mental math and a solid understanding of PEMDAS.
Learn More: Math Nook
12. Online Traditional Worksheet: Order of Operations
This is a self-checking worksheet that students complete online. It includes operations without exponents as well as expressions with exponents, so it forms a comprehensive review and/or assessment of the topic. Plus, it marks the incorrect solutions, so students can benefit from immediate feedback.
Learn More: Online Math Learning
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