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    • ▾5th grade
      • ▸Decimal place value
        • •Decimal place value
        • •Hashi puzzles
        • •Decimals to thousandths
        • •Rounding decimals
      • ▸Multi-digit multiplication and division
        • •Multiplying whole numbers by 10, 100, and 1000
        • •Multiplying and dividing decimals by 10, 100, and 1000
        • •Convert fractions to decimals, 10, 100, or 1000 in the denominator
        • •Multiplication, partial products method
        • •Long division
      • ▸Decimal arithmetic
        • •Decimal arithmetic
        • •Dividing whole numbers to get a decimal
      • ▸Add and subtract fractions
        • •Add and subtract fractions, abstract
        • •Adding and subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping
        • •Add and subtract fractions, word problems
      • ▸Multiply fractions
        • •Multiplication as scaling
        • •Areas and perimeters, fractional side lengths
        • •Multiply fractions, abstract
        • •Multiply fractions, word problems
      • ▸Divide fractions
        • •Understanding fractions as division, word problems
        • •Dividing whole numbers by unit fractions
        • •Dividing unit fractions by whole numbers
        • •Dividing mixed numbers
      • ▸Volume
        • •Volume by counting unit cubes
        • •Volume of right rectangular prisms by multiplying
        • •Volume of composite right rectangular prisms
        • •Volume, word problems
      • ▸Coordinate plane
        • •Plot coordinates
        • •Plot coordinates from word problems
      • ▾Algebraic thinking
        • •Intro to parentheses
        • •Distributive property without variables
        • •Convert between words and arithmetic expressions
        • •Linear equations, tables
      • ▸Measurement and data
        • •Unit conversion
        • •Represent and reason with line plots
      • ▸Properties of shapes
        • •Geometric definitions
        • •Classifying shapes
        • •Classifying triangles
        • •Classifying polygons
        • •Symmetries of regular polygons
        • •Quantifiers
     › 5th grade › Algebraic thinking

    Convert between words and arithmetic expressions

    Students will learn how parentheses affect the value of an expression. For example, \((2 + 3) \cdot 4 \ne 2 + 3 \cdot 4.\) Here's a lesson, and here's practice. Then students will learn how to convert from American English phrases to expressions involving parentheses. Here's a lesson. Students can practice by doing this and this. Conclude by giving your students this challenge.

    Constructing numerical expressions by Khan Academy

    Do these Khan Academy exercises:

    • Translate expressions with parentheses
    • Create expressions with parentheses

    Conclude by leading this investigation:

    Pin Board Murders (patterns, angles, discussion)
    by MathPickle

    5.OA.A.2: Write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them. For example, express the calculation "add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" as 2 × (8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 + 921) is three times as large as 18932 + 921, without having to calculate the indicated sum or product.

    Lessons and practice problems