Lesson Grade 6 Understanding of Equivalent Ratios

Domain: Proportions (Ratios and Fractions)

B.C. IRP Learning Outcome: A5 demonstrate an understanding of ratio, concretely,
pictorially, and symbolically
Suggested Learning Indicators:

provide a concrete or pictorial representation for a given ratio

write a ratio from a given concrete or pictorial representation
express a given ratio in multiple forms, such as 3:5, 3 5 , or 3 to 5
identify and describe ratios from reallife contexts and record them symbolically
solve a given problem involving ratio

Materials
Individual white boards, dry-erase markers, laptop or desktop with Internet, overhead
projector that links the computer onto a classroom white board.
Terminology
Ratios, equivalent, greatest common divisor, numerator, denominator, greatest common
factor
Advanced Preparation

Students should have already played the Employee Cafeteria Puzzle in Lure of
the Labyrinth.
Have Employee Cafeteria Puzzle showing on overhead projector on classroom
whiteboard.

Learning Activities
1. Classroom Discussion
Talk to class about Employee Cafeteria Puzzle and pose the guiding questions such as:
Who found solving the puzzle easy/hard?
What strategies did they use to solve the puzzle?
2. Play Puzzle Together as a Class

Have the puzzle projected onto the whiteboard and ask students to take turns coming
up and putting the right sizing of food on the appropriate plate. As they complete their
puzzle, ask them how they knew that was the correct choice.
3. Introduce/review the term ratio
After a few tries, take one of the monsters plate to show and an example of a ratio (for
example the ratio between the slop and sushi is 2:22, the ratio between the slop and
drumstick is 2:6). Then ask students:
Is the ratio between the food items the same on the other monsters plates?
How are they different?
4. Introduce Concept of Greatest Common Divisor Equivalent Ratios
Write a food ratio from one of the monsters plate on the classroom whiteboard (ex.
Rock Mans slop: drumstick is 6:18). Ask students to write on their individual
whiteboards the largest number that both 6 and 18 can be divided by evenly (check that
they get 6). Tell them that 6 is the greatest common divisor for that particular ratio. Now
ask them to re-write the ratio after they have divided both numbers (check that they
have written 1:3 and clarify any wrong answers). Rewrite both ratios on the classroom
whiteboard and put an equal sign between them and tell them that 1:3 = 6:18 are
equivalent fractions.
5. Review Concepts
Ask students to find the greatest common divisor for each of the rest of the monsters
plate and re-write the ratio in its lowest equivalent ratio. Ask students:
What do you notice about the lowest equivalent ratio for each of the monsters
plate? (You are looking for, they are all the same).
6. Practice
Ask students to return to the Lure of the Labyrinth and instead of entering the game
select the Play Puzzle option (you can show them using the overhead projector) and
select the Employee Cafeteria Puzzle. Since the puzzle changes slightly each time you
go back into the puzzle it will provide them a new problem to solve. Circulate and see if
there are those who are still having difficulty. If so, try pairing them up with others in the
class for peer scaffolding. For those who have solved and want more practice tell them
they can challenge themselves by selecting the slightly harder Managers Cafeteria
level puzzle.
Follow Up
Have a discussion and ask the students:

Did they found the completing the puzzle easier this time?

Can they think of other experiences theyve had when theyve run into problems
like this? (examples may include: making a recipe larger or smaller, changing
money currencies)

Extension Activity
This activity could be done by individual students, but it may be better to work together
in small groups to give them opportunities to collaborate. Ask students to think of
another situation like the cafeteria where they might need to use knowledge of ratios
and equivalent ratios to solve a problem. Ask groups (or individual) to then write up their
scenario as well as a problem that involves the use of ratios on their individual
whiteboards. Tell them they can help illustrate their problem by drawing a picture. Once
they have completed their problem, have them solve it and write the answer on a piece
of paper as an answer key. Groups can then share their problems with one another and
practice solving each others questions.