Run sheet

Order of Operations — Expressions and Equations

Grade 6 · Lesson 1 · 23 slides · blocked practice

The big idea

An EXPRESSION is a calculation with no equals sign. An EQUATION states that two expressions are equal.

Slide by slide

#On the screenWhat you say
1Today — WARM-UPPoint at the five parts. Name where we are.
2Work out 7 × 400.Boards up on three. This is yesterday's work — Grade 5 — multiplying by tens. Do not help each other; I need to see what each of you kept.
32,800 answer — own slideShow me. Everyone at once. Check your own board against this.
4Today — I DOWe are at I DO. Boards down and flat.
5An EXPRESSION is a calculation with no equals sign. An EQUATION states that two expressions are equal.Read this out. Do not explain it yet — the example explains it.
63 + 4 × 2 build 1 of 5Here is a calculation.
73 + 4 × 2
expression → value build 2 of 5
It has no equals sign, so it is an expression. It has a value.
83 + 4 × 2
expression → value
3 + 4 × 2 = 11 build 3 of 5
Now I claim its value is 11.
93 + 4 × 2
expression → value
3 + 4 × 2 = 11
equation build 4 of 5
An equals sign has appeared. This is now an equation.
103 + 4 × 2
expression → value
3 + 4 × 2 = 11
equation
expression: evaluate · equation: judge build 5 of 5
An equation can be TRUE or FALSE. An expression can only be evaluated.
11Is 5 × 3 − 2 an expression or an equation? Evaluate it.Now the same thing on a new one. Watch — nothing on your boards.
12No equals sign, so it is an expression.
Multiplication first: 15 − 2.
13 answer — own slide
I say every step aloud as I write it. The board keeps all of it.
13Today — WE DOWe are at WE DO. Boards up.
14Is 12 ÷ 4 = 3 an expression or an equation? Is it true?Look for the equals sign first. Boards up.
15Equals sign, so an equation.
12 ÷ 4 = 3, so TRUE. answer — own slide
Boards up. Everyone at once — check yours against this.
16Is 8 + 2 × 5 = 50 an expression or an equation? Is it true?Careful — evaluate properly before you judge it.
17Equation.
8 + 10 = 18, not 50.
FALSE answer — own slide
Boards up. Everyone at once — check yours against this.
18Today — YOU DOWe are at YOU DO. Boards down, books open.
19Dimensions 6A — page 2Open your books to this page. Wait — do not start yet.
20Do — page 2These are the book's own problems, same type as the three we have just done. Work them in the book.
21Today — CLOSURELast part. Answers up.
22“Is there an equals sign?”This is the question to ask yourself every time, not just today.
23Write one expression and one equation on your board.One last board. Then we are finished.

Mini whiteboards, by segment

SegmentMWBTimeBoardsWhat to hold
WARM-UPretrieval3-5 minBOARDS UPQuestion up, boards up on the count. Everyone shows at once — a child who waits to see a neighbour's board has not retrieved anything.
I DOnone — they watch3-4 minboards downBoards DOWN and flat. This segment is watching, and a child writing is not watching. Say so once at the start of the year and then hold it.
WE DOprimary use5-6 minBOARDS UPOne step, then boards up. Do not let them run ahead to the answer — the point is that everybody is on the same step at the same time.
YOU DOon the sheet4-5 minboards downBoards down. This is the book's problems, worked where the work will be kept.
CLOSUREanswers displayed2-3 minboards downAnswers on the board, children check their own. Mark nothing here.
Watch for
8 + 2 × 5 = 50 is true only if you work left to right, which is what most of the class will do. Do not correct it yet — this is the problem the next three lessons exist to solve, and letting them feel it is worth more than telling them.