Proportions Lesson Plan: Ratios, Proportions, and Percents

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Proportions, and supports the standard of analyzing proportional relationships and using them to solve real-world and mathematical problems. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students to reflect on number relationships, such as inequalities and ratios. Ask:

• What are different ways you can compare numbers?
• In what ways can comparing numbers be helpful in the real world?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

• Read the description on the Proportions topic page.
• Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
• Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the articles. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
  

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Proportions Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about proportions while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

• Make-a-Movie: Five tickets to a carnival cost $45. Create a tutorial demonstrating how to set up a proportion and determine how much seven tickets would cost.
• Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying the steps to setting up a proportion.
• Creative Coding: Code a math problem that uses proportions, and challenge a classmate to solve it.

More to Explore 

Ratio Rumble: Players apply knowledge of proportions to make powerful potions in this interactive game.

Ratio, Proportion, and Percent Unit: Continue to build understanding around how numbers relate by exploring more BrainPOP math topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

• Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas. 
• Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
• Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.