Order of Operations

Curriculum Area

New Zealand Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum – Level 4-5

• Strand: Number and Algebra
• Achievement Objective: Use order of operations, including grouping symbols and BEDMAS, to solve problems.

Learning Objective

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Understand and apply BEDMAS (Brackets, Exponents, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction) correctly.
2. Engage in flip teaching to take ownership of their learning.
3. Complete a follow-up activity in their books for consolidation.

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Lesson Structure (25 minutes)

1. Hook (3 minutes) – Interactive Challenge

• Scenario: “You have $100 to split between ordering food online & buying a new game. You saw a deal that says (100 ÷ 2) + 10 × 3. How much money do you actually spend?”
• Pair Discussion: Ask students to quickly discuss in pairs how they would solve the problem. Observe if they apply the order of operations correctly.
• Quick Debrief: Reveal the answer and introduce BEDMAS as the correct method to solve these.

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2. Flip Teaching (8 minutes) – Student-Led Learning

Each student is given an iPad and provided with a digital tutorial created in Keynote or Google Slides, explaining BEDMAS step-by-step using:
✅ Visual animations of equations being solved.
✅ Quick drag and drop activities where they must reorder steps.
✅ Short 5-question auto-marked quiz to check understanding.

While students are learning at their own pace, the teacher moves around to support struggling students.

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3. Practical Game (5 minutes) – "Order It Fast!"

• Students form pairs and are given mini whiteboards.
• Teacher calls out an equation, e.g., 8 + (6 ÷ 2) × 4 – 3.
• The first pair to correctly solve the problem on their board and raise it wins a point.
• Tweak for engagement: Add a timer with a buzzer sound effect!

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4. Follow-Up Activity (7 minutes) – Independent Work

• Students complete a short worksheet of 5 problems in their exercise books.
• One real-life challenge question is included:
  "A builder calculates the total cost of materials using: (10 × 3) + (50 ÷ 5) – 4. Find the total cost."
• Teacher walks around to provide instant feedback.

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Wrap-Up Question (2 minutes)

Ask students to explain BEDMAS in their own words, using an example. Choose 1-2 students to share.

💡 Fast Finishers Bonus: If students finish early, they can create their own BEDMAS challenge for their classmates to solve!

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Teacher Reflection

🔍 How well did students engage with the flip-teaching approach? Were they able to self-manage their learning using digital resources?
📊 Review how many students got 4/5 or more correct in the follow-up activity to assess understanding.
💬 Ask students for feedback—Did they enjoy the competition & independent work?

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Final Notes for Teachers

This lesson is designed for high-engagement learners with short attention spans. Using highly interactive, digital resources ensures students stay involved while allowing self-paced learning. Tailoring learning to include real-world applications also helps disengaged students see maths as useful for their future.