All About Ratios (Teachers' Page)

 
Level of activities:
 5th -8th grade

Materials:
Computers with Internet access,

Strategies:
The "All About Ratios" activities are designed to introduce ratios in a concept-building way. The activities can be done on computers with Internet access or printed. An effective model is for pairs of students to work together at the computer talking to each other about the activities.

Assessment:
Exercises and quizzes are checked on-line, which teachers can record. Practice answers are hidden under a tab so that students can easily check their answers. Problem solving answers are submitted and both the students' and the correct answer are returned. Teachers can circulate and record the students' responses.

Standards:
The NCTM Principles and Standards of School Mathematics states

    Students in Grades 6-8 should

  • understand and use ratios and proportions to represent quantitative relationships;
  • develop, analyze, and explain methods for solving problems involving proportions, such as scaling and finding equivalent ratios.

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills indicates the following skills at the specified grade level:

Grade 6 --

Within a well-balanced mathematics curriculum, the primary focal points at Grade 6 are using ratios to describe proportional relationships involving number, geometry, measurement, and probability and adding and subtracting decimals and fractions.

    The student is expected to

  • use multiplication and division of whole numbers to solve problems including situations involving equivalent ratios and rates;
  • use ratios to describe proportional situations;
  • represent ratios and percents with concrete models, fractions, and decimals; and
  • use ratios to make predictions in proportional situations.

Web Resources for Ratio and Proportions:



URL http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/proportions/proptea.html