Ratios Lesson Plan: Ratio Rumble Game

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

In this ratios lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students explore ratios and proportions using an online math game called Ratio Rumble. Students will identify ratios when used in a variety of contextual situations and explain why ratios and rates naturally relate to fractions and decimals.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 03

CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.1

Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.

Grade: 03

CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.3c

Express whole numbers as fractions, and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers. Examples: Express 3 in the form 3 = 3/1; recognize that 6/1 = 6; locate 4/4 and 1 at the same point of a number line diagram.

Grade: 04

CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2

Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.

Grade: 04

CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.B.3a

Understand addition and subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the same whole.

Grade: 05

CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3a

Read and write decimals to thousandths using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form, e.g., 347.392 = 3 × 100 + 4 × 10 + 7 × 1 + 3 × (1/10) + 9 × (1/100) + 2 × (1/1000).

Grade: 05

CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.A.2

Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole, including cases of unlike denominators, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem. Use benchmark fractions and number sense of fractions to estimate mentally and assess the reasonableness of answers. For example, recognize an incorrect result 2/5 + 1/2 = 3/7, by observing that 3/7 < 1/2.

Grade: 06

CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1

Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. For example, “The ratio of wings to beaks in the bird house at the zoo was 2:1, because for every 2 wings there was 1 beak.” “For every vote candidate A received, candidate C received nearly three votes.”

Grade: 06

CCSS.Math.Content.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. For example, “This recipe has a ratio of 3 cups of flour to 4 cups of sugar, so there is 3/4 cup of flour for each cup of sugar.” “We paid $75 for 15 hamburgers, which is a rate of $5 per hamburger.”1

Grade: 06

CCSS.Math.Content.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.

Grade: 07

CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.2

Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.

Grade: 07

CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.2a

Decide whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship, e.g., by testing for equivalent ratios in a table or graphing on a coordinate plane and observing whether the graph is a straight line through the origin.

Students will:

Identify ratios when used in a variety of contextual situations.
Solve common problems and communicate by using rate, particularly unit rates.
Explain why ratios and rates naturally relate to fractions and decimals.

Materials:

Computers with internet access for BrainPOP
Interactive whiteboard (or just an LCD projector)
One copy of the Ratios Graphic Organizer for each pair of students

Preparation:

This lesson plan uses a free online math game from Learning Games Lab called Ratio Rumble. The game allows students to practice identifying ratios in a variety of contextual situations and solve problems by using rates. There are multiple levels within the game that students unlock as they make progress. It could take students around three hours to complete the entire game, so make sure students understand they're not expected to play all the way through.

Lesson Procedure:

Play the Ratios movie for students to activate prior knowledge.
Have students complete the Graphic Organizer from BrainPOP's Ratios movie to practice expressing amounts in whole number, fractions, and ratio forms.
Talk about students' results. Project the Graphic Organizer and have student volunteers suggest answers. Type students' responses directly into the form, discussing how ratios are determined and expressed.
Tell students they will have the opportunity to experiment with more ratios in an online game called Ratio Rumble. You can either project the game for the class to see and go over basic functions of game play together, or allow students to discover this information on their own. Students will need to understand that they can fulfill each ratio listed on the left side of the screen by selecting its equivalent from the grid: simply connect flasks that touch each other in the up, down, left, right, or diagonal directions.
Provide at least ten minutes of class time for students to explore the game. As they advance through the levels, they will discover more game features. A flask that looks like a bomb with a fuse must be used before the countdown reaches zero, or it will explode and reduce the player's health. A flask with a heart on it will heal the player when used, and a flask with a lightning bolt will damage the opponent. Two-part ratios require potions in two colors; three-part ratios require potions in three colors. In later levels, some flasks are only half full: the solution is to combine two half-flasks to make one whole, or reduce to an equivalent ratio and earn extra points.
Have students pause in their game play for several minutes to participate in a whole class discussion. What strategies have they found helpful during game play? How did they use the information they know about ratios to help them beat each level? How are the two part ratios different from the three part ratios? You can play the Proportions movie if needed to develop student understanding.
Allow students to continue playing the game. You can create a specific goal for students if desired, and challenge them to reach a certain level before time is up. Differentiate the goals if necessary.
Assess student learning using the game quiz.

Extension Activities:

Encourage students to try to beat the game outside of class time. You can even offer extra credit points or a prize to any students who can show you a screenshot of the completed game! You can also allow students to explore the other ratio games on BrainPOP's GameUp.

Filed as: 3-5, 6-8, BrainPOP, CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.1, CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.3c, CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2, CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.B.3a, CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3a, CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.A.2, CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1

Ratios Lesson Plan: Ratio Rumble Game

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

Materials:

Preparation:

Lesson Procedure:

Extension Activities:

Related: