Foundations of Algebra

Order of Operations Final Project/Assessment

5 Dice: Order of Operations Game
Learning Standards: Order of Operations
http://www.corestandards.org/ath/!ontent/"#A/introd$ction/
An e%pression is a record of a comp$tation with n$m&ers' s(m&ols that represent n$m&ers' arithmetic operations'
e%ponentiation' and' at more ad)anced le)els' the operation of e)al$ating a f$nction. !on)entions a&o$t the $se of
parentheses and the order of operations ass$re that each e%pression is $nam&ig$o$s. !reating an e%pression that
descri&es a comp$tation in)ol)ing a general *$antit( re*$ires the a&ilit( to e%press the comp$tation in general
terms' a&stracting from specific instances.
Student Goals: Students will be able to...
#ol)e and write e%pressions $sing the order of operations
+se &asic comp$tational s,ills -addition' s$&traction' m$ltiplication' di)ision. in m$lti/step
pro&lems
+tili0e the order of operations
Technology Components
1pad
5 Dice: Order of Operations Game
reparation:
#ec$re class set of 1pads for 2 consec$ti)e da(s
3oad 1pads with 5 Dice: Order of Operations Game
Assign gro$ps
#ec$re a room
Students rior !nowledge: Students !now...
4he order of operations -Parentheses' 5%ponents' Di)ision/$ltiplcation' Addition/#$&traction.
6asic !omp$tation #,ills -addition' s$&traction' m$ltiplication' di)ision.
Lesson Summary
"ay # and $:
#t$dents will &e placed into gro$ps of fo$r. 4he( will all &e gi)en 1pads with the game' 5 Dice: Order
of Operations Game preloaded. 4he( will &egin as a team on the first le)el. 4his le)el onl( incl$des
5 dice' the addition s(m&ol' and the s$&traction s(m&ol. 5ach st$dent will start their own game' &$t the
team is not s$ccessf$l $ntil all fo$r mem&ers ha)e finished their ro$nd.
Game pla( wor,s as follows. At each le)el' st$dents are gi)en 5 dice and an increasing amo$nt of
mathematical s(m&ols. #t$dents are gi)en a target n$m&er that the( m$st hit in order to pass the le)el.
For instance' that target ma( &e 75. 4he( m$st ta,e the 5 dice and write an e%pression that e*$als 75.
4he( ma( place the dice and s(m&ols in an( order the( wish. 1f two dice are placed ne%t to each other
witho$t a s(m&ol &etween them' those two dice ma,e one n$m&er. For instance placing a 8 ne%t to a 5
ma,es 85.
4he order in which the( place the n$m&ers and s(m&ols will determine the order in which calc$lations
are made. #t$dents m$st follow the correct order of operation in order to get the correct answer. 9hen
st$dents thin, the( ha)e the correct answer' the( press the target n$m&er. 4he app then r$ns thro$gh
e)er( step in calc$lating their e%pression in the correct order of operations. 1f e)er( mem&er of the
gro$p gets it correct and has a different target n$m&er' the( ma( mo)e to the ne%t ro$nd. 4he( m$st
show it to me and get m( appro)al &efore mo)ing on. 1f st$dents are incorrect' the( ma( as, the
teacher for hints' &$t not complete g$idance. 9e want the st$dents to wor, together and ma,e an effort
to fig$re some things o$t on their own.
"ay %:
On the third da( st$dent teams will &e p$t into a swiss format: to$rnament. 9e will do 2 to 8 ro$nds
depending on the amo$nt of time in the class period. 4eams will go into the m$ltipla(er format. 4his
will ta,e a few min$tes to e%plain. Once we ha)e the r$les down' the to$rnament will &egin. 9hen
matches are done' teams will report the res$lts. 9hen all ro$nd res$lts are in' the( will &e recorded and
the ne%t ro$nd will &egin. 4he team with the &est record will &e the winner.
:#wiss 4o$rnament: Pla(ers/teams will compete in a &est of 2 match. 4he first pla(er/team to reach
two )ictories will &e the winner. ;es$lts will &e reported with the winner and the amo$nt of games
pla(ed in the match.
1f a team wins a match in < games their tie&rea,er record is </=. 1f the team wins a match in 2 games'
their tie&rea,er record is </>. 4he tie&rea,er record is onl( $sed in case of a tie in total match )ictories.
For f$ll details $se this we&site for reference: http://en.wi,ipedia.org/wi,i/#wiss/s(stem?to$rnament
Final Assessment:
After da( two' each teams indi)id$al res$lts can &e $sed to determine their s$ccess. 4he grade will &e
gi)en &ased on the le)el in the game that the( reached. !ompleting all le)els is A@ wor,'
completing 5/A is a 6' 8/A is a !' 2/A is a D' </A or less is an F.
Da( 2 is more of a f$n da(. 6$t this is still another wa( to informall( assess the st$dents s$ccess.