6th, 7th, 8th Grades  Lesson 45 minutes

"Ratio Rumble: Crack the Code!"

Brianna W
6.RP.A.1
6.RP.A.3
6.RP.A.2
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Collaboration
1-pager

Purpose

Students will collaboratively design a balanced and nutritious meal plan for a family of four, using ratios to ensure each meal meets dietary guidelines. They will engage in critical thinking to calculate and adjust part:part and part:whole ratios for different food groups, considering real-world constraints such as budget and dietary restrictions. This hands-on project fosters collaboration as students co-design the meal plan, make shared decisions, and assume leadership roles within their teams.

Learning goals

Students will develop an understanding of ratios by collaboratively designing a meal plan that meets nutritional guidelines for a family of four. They will apply ratio language to describe the relationship between different food groups and portions, distinguishing between part:part and part:whole ratios. Through this project, students will engage in critical thinking to solve real-world problems, using tools like tables of equivalent ratios and diagrams. They will also practice collaboration by co-designing the meal plan, making shared decisions, and assuming leadership roles within their groups.
Standards
  • [Massachusetts] 6.RP.A.1 - Understand the concept of a ratio including the distinctions between part:part and part:whole and the value of a ratio; part/part and part/whole. Use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.
  • [Massachusetts] 6.RP.A.3 - Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, e.g., by reasoning about tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, double number line diagrams, or equations.
  • [Massachusetts] 6.RP.A.2 - Understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b ≠ 0, and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship, including the use of units.
Competencies
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.

Products

Students will work collaboratively to design a meal plan for a family of four, using ratios to ensure nutritional balance. They will create a visual representation of their meal plan using a table of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, or double number line diagrams to illustrate the part:part and part:whole relationships. Each group will present their meal plan and rationale, demonstrating their understanding of unit rates and ratio language in a real-world context.

Launch

Begin the lesson by presenting a real-world scenario: planning a balanced and nutritious meal for a family of four. Divide students into small groups and provide them with a list of ingredients and nutritional guidelines. Challenge each group to determine the appropriate ratios of ingredients needed to meet the dietary requirements, using part:part and part:whole ratios. Encourage students to use visual aids like tape diagrams or double number lines to illustrate their meal plan proposals. Conclude the launch by having groups present their initial plans, fostering a collaborative discussion on different approaches and solutions.

Exhibition

Students will collaborate in small groups to design and present a balanced meal plan for a family of four, using ratios to ensure nutritional balance. Each group will create a visual presentation, such as a poster or digital slideshow, to showcase their meal plan, highlighting the ratio relationships between different food groups. They will present their plans to the class, explaining their reasoning and the ratio calculations used. Invite community members, such as local nutritionists or parents, to provide feedback and engage in a Q&A session with the students. This exhibition will allow students to demonstrate their understanding of ratios in a real-world context and practice their communication and collaboration skills.