Description

Make learning PEMDAS a fun adventure with these order of operations 5th grade math mystery worksheets featuring the Case of the Jungle Joker! This math activity is a fantastic way to practice evaluating expressions while keeping students highly engaged.

 

⭐ The Case of the Jungle Joker (5th Grade Edition)

Your students must complete FIVE math worksheets involving the order of operations to unlock FIVE clues! Then, your student detectives must use critical thinking and deductive reasoning to narrow the list of suspects to find the Jungle Joker! It’s easy to prep! Just print and solve, or go paperless with the Google Slides option provided within your download.

 

⭐ Optional Videos

• An optional video hook is included for introducing the case and setting the stage! You can check it out here <view here>
• BONUS: An ending video is also added to wrap up the case and celebrate your detectives’ success!

 

⭐ Preparation & Digital Options

• Easy Prep! Simply print and copy the PDF worksheets, and your student detectives are ready to start.
• Digital Option: In the instructions section, click on the link given to open the student pages in Google Slides. You will need to make a copy of the Google Slides to your drive before you can edit. Students will need to be in ‘edit’ mode to enter the answers into the boxes placed on the slides.

 

⭐ Math Skills Required to Unlock Clues

There are five clues to crack to solve the mystery. Students must use critical thinking skills to figure out what the clue is telling them to eliminate from the list of possibilities.

• Clue 1: Order of Operations with no brackets
• Clue 2: Evaluating Expressions with Parentheses
• Clue 3: Order of Operations with no brackets
• Clue 4: More Evaluating Expressions with Parentheses
• Clue 5: Nested Parentheses

Some clues are tricky! I recommend pausing to discuss as a class if your students become confused with a clue.

 

⭐ Multiple Uses & Tips

• Suitable for independent, pairs, or group work.
• Use as part of your math centers, add to your sub tubs, make it part of your early finisher tasks, give for homework, or make it part of your classroom practice/review sessions.

Tip: I recommend pacing this activity by giving students one clue at a time. Once the whole class has completed a clue, then move on to the next clue, either within the same lesson or the next math session. New math content presented? Make a lesson out of it by modeling the math before diving into the clue. I like to say, “We must learn something new before attempting the next clue.”

 

⭐ How Long Will This Activity Take?

Time to complete will vary anywhere between 30mins – 2 hours or more! It mainly depends on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format and how difficult they find math skills covered in the particular mystery. Please check the math skills outlined in the clues above to help determine suitability for your class.

 

⭐ Frequently Asked Questions & Extras

• Add extra motivation: Download the Mystery Record & Rank Chart FREEBIE HERE
• Looking for more 5th grade resources? Math Mystery Worksheets & Activity Sheets for Teachers

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Thank you!
Mrs. J.
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