Summer Boost
Lesson Plan:
GEMDAS: Order of Operations
Learning Objectives
Students will evaluate expressions with parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions.
Introduction
(5 minutes)
- Review PEMDAS as an acronym for order of operations.
- Write an expression on the board that includes parenthesis only. Example: 60 – 4 x (7 -2) + 23 + 32
- Discuss the rules that must be followed and evaluate the expression.
- Rewrite the expression on the board.
- Explain to students that brackets, braces, and other symbols are often used in mathematical expressions as well.
- Have students insert other grouping symbols to this expression.
- Discuss the similarities and differences in the problems.
- Explain that in today’s lesson, they will use a new and more accurate acronym, GEMDAS, to solve problems that have grouping symbols.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling
(5 minutes)- Write an expression on the board. Example: 60 – {[4 x (7 -2)] + 23} + 32
- Use the GEMDAS acronym to work through the expression.
- Reveal the correct answer.
- Have students create a second expression.
- Use GEMDAS to work through their expression.
- Answer any questions that students have.
Guided Practice/Interactive Modeling
(10 minutes)- Using the GEMDAS Guided Practice worksheet, have students work in small groups or pairs to solve the expressions.
- Have the students follow the acronym GEMDAS as they work through each of the sections until they solve the expressions.
- Use the key to check if students have the correct answers.
- Guide students who need additional help.
Independent Working Time
(25 minutes)- Using the GEMDAS Independent Practice worksheet have students use the order of operations acronym, GEMDAS, to work through each of the problems.
- Remind students that this activity is to be completed alone.
- Tell students to follow the order according to GEMDAS.
- Use the key to check student answers.
Differentiation
- Enrichment: Allow students to create their own problems and solve them.
- Support: Have students create a GEMDAS foldable that they can use as they work through each problem.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- Have students identify the GEMDAS components.
- Have students write the following expression on an exit ticket: {[(5 x 6) ÷ (12 x 3)] – 8} + 4
- Have each student solve the expression and turn it in for a quick assessment.
- If time permits, allow students to solve the expression using the interactive whiteboard.
Review and Closing
(5 minutes)- Recap today’s lesson.
- Remind students that PEMDAS and GEMDAS are both common acronyms used for remembering the order of operations.
- Allow students to ask questions that they still have and make comments about what they have learned.
Guided Lessons are a sequence of interactive digital games, worksheets, and other activities
that guide learners through different concepts and skills.
They keep track of your progress and help you study smarter, step by step.
Guided Lessons are digital games and exercises that keep track of your progress and help you study smarter, step by step.
If you think about math as a language, expressions and equations are the sentences. This unit brings students into the world of “math language”, learning how to write complex expressions in different forms and convert numbers in one form to another (i.e.decimals to fractions). Last, students will apply the order of operations to interpret and solve simple algebraic equations.
If you think about math as a language, expressions and equations are the sentences.
This lesson includes printable activities:
Download All (5)
Exercise: Converting Numerical Expressions to Different Forms
Exercise: Order of Operations and use of Parentheses
Game: Defeating the Mathemagician: Expressions, Equations, and Variables Story
Exercise: Understanding Expressions and Equations
Game: Solving Basic Algebraic Equations: Basketball Edition
Exercise: Solving Basic Algebraic Equations
Exercise: Convert Decimals to Fractions 2
