Lesson Plan

Exponent Exploration: Power Up!

Introduce 5th-grade students to solving PEMDAS equations that include exponents, using traditional notation with superscripts for clarity.

Integrating exponents into PEMDAS equations deepens understanding of order of operations, helping students, including those on IEPs, see how exponents are applied in problems.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up and Review

5 minutes

Step 2

Direct Instruction

10 minutes

Step 3

Guided Practice

7 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down and Recap

3 minutes

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Exponent Exploration!

Kick off the lesson with a brief review of PEMDAS and the introduction of superscript notation for exponents. Emphasize that we'll now use the standard notation (e.g., 2³ instead of 2^3) for clarity.

Understanding Exponents

Explain what exponents are and why we write them with superscripts. Use a simple example with traditional notation to illustrate the point.

Step-by-Step Example

Walk students through a step-by-step example of a PEMDAS equation that includes an exponent. Emphasize the use of superscript notation and the proper order of operations.

Guided Practice

Transition into guided practice. Have students refer to their worksheets and visual aids as they solve a similar PEMDAS problem with exponents, ensuring they use superscript notation.

Cool-Down and Recap

Recap the lesson's key points. Ask students to explain how using superscript for exponents helps clarify steps in solving PEMDAS equations, and reinforce the importance of following the correct order of operations.

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Activity

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Worksheet

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Exponent Exploration: Power Up!

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Celine O'Dowd

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