Description
Replace your order of operation worksheets with these engaging 5th grade Mini Math Missions activities! This print or digital resource includes 24 order of operations task cards, each of which is a clever CSI mystery, logic puzzle, or single challenge math escape room. Students will love evaluating expressions with parentheses and brackets to unlock a vault, prove their identity to an undercover agent, and much more. All of the expressions and equations in this order of operations activity pack use positive whole numbers and there are no exponents. These task cards are great to spread out throughout the year to keep concepts fresh in students’ minds. Use them for warm-ups, exit tickets, review, for early finishers, or just for fun!
Your students have been hired to work in the Mini Math Missions Department of the Mathematical Security Agency. Their job is to help field agents solve puzzles to assist them in their top secret missions. A wide variety of spy-themed challenges will have your students using their knowledge of evaluating expressions using the correct order of operations in order to open a safe, find a door code, or eliminate suspects using deductive reasoning. They’ll need to interpret remainders, solve word problems, and much more; but they will have fun while doing it!
A variety of difficulty levels allows for differentiation. The more challenging missions are great for giving students the chance to collaborate to solve puzzles. Keeping students engaged is also easy as each task card includes a unique mission. These math missions provide a balance of fun and rigor. Ciphers and codes add to the level of mystery and engagement.
What math skills are used?
- Evaluating expressions with parentheses, brackets, and braces
- All problems include whole numbers (there are no fractions or decimals in this activity.
- No exponents – these task cards are based on fifth grade math skills
- Error analysis with order of operations
- Finding the number to make equations true
- Placing parentheses to make an equation true
What is in the PDF?
- 24 half page task cards focusing on fifth grade math standard 5.OA.A.1
- Printable versions in color & black and white
- Link to digital Google Slides™ version (requires students to have Google Drive™)
- Printable “Training Manual” with a glossary of spy vocabulary and directions for decoding ciphers and codes
- “Top Secret” file folder decorations
- Letter from the head of the Mathematics Security Agency, M.S.A, welcoming students to their new role in the agency
- Answer key
See all of our escape rooms and math activities
