Grade 6Mathmedium

Brain Teaser Olympics

Brain Teaser Olympics — Order of Operations worksheet for Grade 6.

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Grade 6 Order of Operations Worksheet - 10 Problems

What Your Child Will Learn

Apply the order of operations (PEMDAS) to evaluate 10 Olympic-themed expressions containing parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction at a medium difficulty level.
Solve multi-step brain teaser problems by correctly prioritizing exponents before multiplication or division in Grade 6 expressions.
Identify and correct errors in expressions where operations were performed left-to-right instead of following PEMDAS rules.
Demonstrate mastery by completing all 10 problems and explaining the sequence of steps used for each Olympic brain teaser.

How to Use This Worksheet

Step 1: Introduce the Brain Teaser Olympics theme and review the PEMDAS rules with a quick example using one of the worksheet's simpler expressions.
Step 2: Have students attempt problems 1-4 independently, circling each operation in the correct order before calculating.
Step 3: Review answers together, discussing any mistakes related to parentheses or exponents in the Olympic-themed problems.
Step 4: Let students complete problems 5-10, then compare results to see who earns the 'gold medal' for accuracy.

Tips for Parents & Teachers

Watch for students skipping exponents and jumping straight to multiplication; remind them that in the Brain Teaser Olympics, exponents are the 'gold medal' step that must come first after parentheses.

Common mistake: treating all operations equally and working left to right; address by having students circle exponents and multiplication/division pairs before solving each problem.

Encourage use of the PEMDAS chant with an Olympic twist ('Parentheses, Exponents, then Multiply or Divide like champions') to help G6 students remember the sequence during the 10 timed challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why must exponents be solved before multiplication in order-of-operations problems for Grade 6?

Exponents represent repeated multiplication, so they must be calculated first to keep the expression's value accurate; skipping them changes the result of brain teaser problems.

How can my child remember the order of operations when solving the 10 Olympic brain teasers?

Use the PEMDAS acronym and practice by writing the letters next to each problem on the worksheet before starting calculations.

What should I do if my sixth grader forgets parentheses in an expression?

Remind them that parentheses are always the first step and act like a 'starting line' in the Olympics; have them underline any parentheses before solving.

How many operations are typically combined in each medium-difficulty problem on this worksheet?

Most problems include three to five operations with a mix of parentheses and exponents to challenge Grade 6 students without becoming overwhelming.

Is it okay for students to use a calculator on the Brain Teaser Olympics worksheet?

Calculators can be used to check final answers, but students should first solve each problem by hand to practice applying the order of operations correctly.