Order of Operations word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Order of Operations word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this order of operations puzzle set for my 5th graders during our math unit. The kids could solve equations but had no idea what order to do the operations in, so they kept getting different answers for the same problem. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like parentheses, brackets, exponents, multiply, divide, add, subtract, left to right, evaluate, simplify, expression, order, operations, PEMDAS, and GEMDAS. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the order of operations finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether multiplication always comes before division. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple step-by-step arrow drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 5th through 6th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers solve 3 + 4 x 2 and write why the answer is 11 not 14 on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.