Order of Operations (No Exponents / PEMDAS)

Inside the case file

These order of operations worksheets use parentheses with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, with no exponents and no negative numbers anywhere in them. That makes them a good first PEMDAS activity for 5th grade, set as five CSI Mini Mystery Detective cases with math on every line. Use them in class, as homework, or as a quick check on numerical expressions. They're no prep, and each case comes with an answer key.

Each page has 24 expressions and a list of 25 suspects. When a student solves an expression, the answer matches the number beside one suspect, and that suspect gets crossed off. The last name left is the culprit. Students can see for themselves whether their order of operations was right, without you checking every line.

The Cases

1. The Missing Phone - a friend's phone has been stolen
2. The Missing Teacher - a teacher has been kidnapped
3. The Principal's Car - the principal's car is gone
4. The Bank Job - a bank robbery
5. Diamond Heist - a chest of diamonds stolen

What's Inside

• Five one-page cases, each with 24 order of operations problems
• Parentheses with all four operations
• Whole numbers only. No exponents and no negatives.
• An answer key for each case
• Teacher instructions

What Is a CSI Mini Mystery Detective?

It's a one-page case. A short story at the top says what happened, the problems fill the middle of the page, and the suspects are listed with a number beside each name. Students cross off a suspect every time an answer matches. One suspect is left at the end.

When to Use This Resource

This pack is written for the start of the order of operations unit, when students know what PEMDAS (or BEDMAS) stands for and are learning to work parentheses first. Leaving out exponents and negative numbers keeps their attention on that one step. Each case is designed to fit in one class period. The cases also suit small groups, bell ringers, sub days and review before a test.

Grade Levels

Written for 5th grade, where order of operations with parentheses is part of the standards (5.OA.A.1). Strong 4th graders can use it as an extension, and 6th graders can use it as a review before exponents come in.

Why Teachers Love These Cases

• Nothing to prepare. Print a page and hand it out.
• Students can tell on their own when an answer has gone wrong
• Five separate cases
• A first step into PEMDAS before exponents

Want more cases like these?

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