Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes
Order of operations with exponents
Algebra
CCSS 6.EE.A.1England: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Order of operations with exponents.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Order of operations; Whole-number exponents
Leads to: Multi-step calculations with brackets, powers and division; Evaluate expressions with powers and two variables; Order of operations with negative numbers
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Order of operations; Whole-number exponents). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 3 + 8 × 3 = ? → 27Prompt: Multiplication comes before addition and subtraction.
- Evaluate 4⁴. → 256Prompt: Write it out: 4 × 4 × 4 × 4
- (5 + 4) × 2 − 8 = ? → 10Prompt: Brackets first.
Hook · 6 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Order of operations with exponents. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Work out 11 + 5 × 6².
- Step 1: 6² = 36
- Step 2: 5 × 36 = 180
- Step 3: 11 + 180 = 191
- Answer: 191
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Work out 6 + 5 × 4². → 86Prompt: Powers first, then multiplication, then addition.
- Work out (5 + 5)² − 4 × 2. → 92Prompt: Brackets first.
You do: independent practice · 17 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Zara worked out 4 + 2² by adding first and got 36. What is the correct answer? → 8Prompt: Which comes first: the addition or the power?
- Work out 11 + 4 × 6². → 155Prompt: Powers first, then multiplication, then addition.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Order of operations.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Multi-step calculations with brackets, powers and division; Evaluate expressions with powers and two variables; Order of operations with negative numbers.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder