This document discusses the importance of order and provides questions and activities about order of operations in math. It asks questions about how order relates to everyday life and provides examples of order in nature and society. Students are asked to come up with their own examples of order from their lives. The document then discusses the order of operations, with parentheses first, exponents second, multiplication/division third, and addition/subtraction fourth. Students work through practice problems applying the order of operations and discuss why the order matters and why we need agreed-upon conventions.

1. Essential Questions:
How does order relate to our everyday life? So
what? Why does order matter?
Is order often found in nature? What are some
examples?
How is order applied in the larger world? (i.e.
….development & safety for towns & cities,
etc.)
How are the order of operations and algebraic
modeling important in everyday life?

2. When you get dressed, do you put
on your shoes or socks first?
Why? Explain your thinking.

3. When you make cereal, do you fill the
bowl with milk or cereal first? Why?
Explain your thinking.

4. In our lives and in math, we need to do
things in a certain order to make sure
they turn out right.
Try to come up with three or more
examples from your life? Write these
in your notebook.

5. In your math notebook, make a
list…
What do you know about Order of
Operations?
List as many things as you can!

6. Compare your list with your neighbor’s list.
Can you add anything to your list?

7. In your group, try this problem:
8 + 3 x 4 =
(One person should use the blue calculator and the
other person should use the smaller calculator.)
Is the answer….
44 or 20

8. Why did some people get different answers?

9. Order of Operations
Parenthesis or Grouping Symbols
Exponents
Multiplication and Division
Addition and Subtraction
1st
2nd
3rd
4th

10. Click on the links below
to learn more about the Order of Operations
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Order of Operations #1
Order of Operations #2
Order of Operations #3

11. Click on the links below
for extra practice on the Order of Operations
Tutorial and Pretest
Math.com

12. Discuss the following problem
with your table partner:
14 + 5 X 2
Is the correct answer
38 or 24?
Explain your thinking to one another
&
come to an agreement.
-Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class.

13. Independent Practice:
Using the bag of cards, take turns creating a numeric
expression using at least two different operations or more.
Write down the problems your group created in your notebook.
Then, solve each one and discuss your answers.

14. EXIT SLIP
On a separate piece of paper, complete the following problems.
Please turn in your paper before you exit the room.
1. Solve this expression using order of operations:
7 X (8 – 6) + 3 = ?
2. How does the order in which you do the operations affect your
answer?
3. Why do we need to agree on an order of operations?

15. Independent Practice Assignment:
Turn to pg. 95 in your textbook. Do problems
1-8 on notebook paper.