Create a clear definition of the associative property and print it at the top of the worksheet in bold font. Students will not be able to use the property without understanding its provisions. Use terminology suitable for the student level. State that the property can only be used with three or more numbers and that the same operation must take place throughout the problem. Inform the students that the property pertains to how the numbers associate with one another. The answer will be the same regardless of the order of the association.
Note that parentheses in math indicate the order of operations, so work the numbers in parentheses first.
Detail a list of steps required to use the associative property, using numbers or bullets to make the list easier to read. Begin by describing to first carry out the operation with the two numbers in parentheses, then continue with the other number.
Describe to the students how to move the parentheses around a different pair of numbers and carry out the operation.
Indicate to the students to compare the two answers. They should be equal if they used the associative property correctly.
Give examples of using the associative property following the steps listed.
Give the student problems to work independently.