Just like any language, Algebra involves basic principles which we all need to use in order to communicate and understand each other well. If you don't understand the language you won't understand what is going on. I like to review order of operations to start out the year. You might have learned it in middle school, but it is so important we have to make sure we know it.
Let's have some fun!
The goal of this assignment is to help students discover the need for order of operations by giving step-by-step instructions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
This is a great 1st week beginning of the year lesson that helps students interact and have fun.
TIME REQUIRED FOR LESSON
45 minutes
MATERIALS/RESOURCES
Assessment Journal Entry:
I love to use student journals in math. It is a way for them to communicate with me and keep all of their lessons in a neat place. For this lesson I will give ask the students to give me an example from your life where there is a specific order in which you must do something. Discuss why it is important that it be done in a certain order. Finally, tie in why it is important that students know the order of operations. They will then use the PEMDAS "rules" to work on 10- 15 order of operations problems.
Now lets all eat some PB & J sandwiches!
The goal of this assignment is to help students discover the need for order of operations by giving step-by-step instructions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
- Help students gain an understanding of the importance for order of operations.
- Apply the order of operations to various mathematical problems.
This is a great 1st week beginning of the year lesson that helps students interact and have fun.
TIME REQUIRED FOR LESSON
45 minutes
MATERIALS/RESOURCES
- Loaf of bread
- Jar of Peanut Butter
- Jar of Jelly
- Plastic Knife
- Paper Plates
- Paper Towels
- Plastic Gloves
- Student Journals
- Place a few problems on the board (these or a similar problem):
7 + 2 x 10 / 4 + 5 x 1 (6 + 3) x 6 / (3 + 6) - Each student is asked to try to solve the problems in their personal journals.
- Ask for answers to each problem and ask students if they remember the acronym for order of operations.
- Ask students to raise their hand if they know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (PB&J).
- Select one of those students to give you step-by-step directions for making a PB&J sandwich. Follow their directions to the letter! Example:
Student- “Put the peanut butter on the bread.”
Teacher- Places the jar of peanut butter on the loaf of bread. - Give another student the opportunity to give you directions. Again, follow their directions explicitly!
- Continue with this until you have made a PB&J sandwich or you feel that you have demonstrated the point of the activity.
- Discuss with the students the importance of established procedure for basic tasks, and point out that math is no different!
- Share the “established procedure” for order of operations through the mnemonic device “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.” (PEMDAS) Using the new “rules” re-write the problem from the pre-activity on the board and ask students to solve it!
Assessment Journal Entry:
I love to use student journals in math. It is a way for them to communicate with me and keep all of their lessons in a neat place. For this lesson I will give ask the students to give me an example from your life where there is a specific order in which you must do something. Discuss why it is important that it be done in a certain order. Finally, tie in why it is important that students know the order of operations. They will then use the PEMDAS "rules" to work on 10- 15 order of operations problems.
Now lets all eat some PB & J sandwiches!