Program Information / PROGRAM NAME / TEACHER NAME
SUBJECT AREA
Mathematics
UNIT (title and duration)
Ratios, Rates, Proportions 2-3 hours / LESSON PLAN (title and duration)
Introduction to Ratios
45 minutes – 1 hour / NRS EFL(s)
2,3,4
Instruction / CCR STANDARDS
6.RP.1
6.RP.3
/ 2014 GED®Alignment (Check all that apply and identify.)
RLA Assessment Targets
Social Studies Practices/Content Topics
Mathematical Reasoning Assessment Targets/Practices
Science Practices/Content Topics
LEARNER OUTCOME(S)
  1. Students will be able to define the meaning of a ratio.
  2. Students will be able to set up ratios (the three different ways) from pictures and word problems.
  3. Students will be able to set up their own word problem for a ration and be able to explain to other students how to solve it.
/ ASSESSMENT TOOLS/METHODS
  • As students do the word problems I give them on the board, I will do an informal assessment when I walk around and check each student’s work.
  • Students will be working with mini white boards and will have to hold up their answers with work when they are finished. I will also call on different students at random when doing problems and have them explain to the class how they solved the problem the class is doing together.
  • Students will be given homework to review what was learned during class.
  • At the beginning of the next class, the students will have ratio problems on the board as a short review.
  • Complete MH Common Core Basics Ratios and Rates vocabulary and skill review/practice(after Lesson 2 of unit) pages 216-217 with 75% accuracy.

LEARNER PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
  • Students should have a basic understanding of fractions, and know that a fraction is a comparison of a part to a whole.

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
  1. Start by introducing the definition of a ratio and explain to them that they see this all the time in their everyday lives (give examples). You can say, “A ratio is a comparison of two numbers. Ratios are seen everywhere around us. They are seen in sports. For example, for every five games a team plays, they win 3. Ratios are also seen in elections. For example, for every three people that voted Democrat, five voted Republican. Because we see ratios many different places, we need to understand them and know how to use them.”
  2. Hand out a white board, dry erase marker, and eraser to each student. If you don’t have enough for each student, put them in pairs.
  3. Draw a picture on the board of a bag of marbles that has 8 blue marbles, 6 green marbles, and 6 yellow marbles, and 5 red marbles. Tell the students you are going to be using ratios to compare the different types of marbles. You can also use an actual bag of marbles, candy, or colored blocks.
  4. Write up the problem, “Give the ratio of green to blue marbles.” Tell the students there are three different ways to write this answer. Show them the three different ways… 6/8, 6 to 8, and 6:8. Make sure to tell the students that the first number is always the first object they ask about. For instance, they asked for green to blue. Since green was asked about first, it is either the first or top number in the comparison. Also, tell students that all three ways are correct but the most common way to write a ratio is in fraction form. Also, tell them that they will need to reduce their answers.
  5. Give students more example problems to do together as a class on their white boards (Have them hold them up all together after a few seconds to check their answers). Here are some examples (Make sure the students write their answers in all three forms.)….
  6. Give the ratio of green to red marbles.
  7. What is the ratio of yellow to the entire bag of marbles?
  8. What is the ratio of the entire bag of marbles to blue marbles?
  9. After giving several examples, allow students to work on the “Finding Ratio Visuals”-version 1 worksheet from This is a very simple worksheet, but it allows you to see if the students understand the concept. If students still struggle with this concept, you can give them another version of it from more practice.
  10. After you have walked around and checked the students’ papers to make sure they are on track, you can start to introduce ratios in the form of word problems. For example, you could write on the board, “The ratio of male dogs to female dogs is 8:3. For every ______male dogs, there are ______female dogs.” Give them several examples like this and allow them to write on their white boards again. This is a very important concept for them to grasp because it is used in many areas of math and in everyday life.
  11. After giving them several examples, give them the “Ratio Wording”- version 1 worksheet from Allow them to work on it in class while you walk around and check on students individually.
  12. After doing the worksheet, have students come up with two or three of their own word problems and write them on their white boards. Then, give them two or three minutes to show a partner and share their problems and how to find the answers. (If they can explain it, they understand the concept.)
  13. Collect white boards, markers, and erasers.
  14. If you feel like you need one more sources to review the lesson for the day, you can use the YouTube video link in the resource section. It is a great resource for teaching, but it is not the most upbeat and exciting video.
  15. Once you are finished with the video or working on problems, give them a different version of the “Ratio Wording” worksheet from for homework.
Differentiation
  • Lower-skilled students can use manipulatives such as M&M’s to see and record ratios. They can also watch the YouTube video: “If the World Were a Village Video” and complete the “If the World Were a Village” worksheet.
  • Higher-skilled students can reduce less instinctual ratios such as 12/42 which reduces to 2/7.
/ RESOURCES
  • Optional :YouTube video: Introduction to Ratios -
  • – click on ratios – You will use the first two worksheets (Finding Ratio Visuals and Ratio Wording).
  • White boards or erasable sheets
  • Dry erase markers
  • Erasers
Additional resources – the website – click on ratios - Great websites for making worksheets. * Differentiation
  • *The worksheets I have included are pretty simple so if you want something a little more difficult for class or for homework, this website ( would be a good place to create one.
  • Include math manipulatives as indicated by student learning styles and skill levels
  • For lower level student YouTube video: “If the World Were a Village Video” and “If the World Were a Village” worksheet attached below.

Reflection / Mapping Notes
Additional Information

“If the World Were a Village” Activity: We will practice writing ratios by watching the “If the World Were a Village” video. This video pretends that there is a village of 100 people who equally represent every country and language in the world. Fill in the blanks on the worksheet as we watch this video.

  1. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from Asia.
  2. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from Africa.
  3. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from North America.
  4. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from Central and South America.
  5. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from Europe.
  6. For every 100 people in the world, there are ______people from Oceania.
  7. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak Chinese.
  8. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak English.
  9. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak Hindi.
  10. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak Spanish.
  11. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak Bengali.
  12. ______out of every 100 people in the world speak Arabic.

Ohio ABLE Professional Development Network—Spring 2014 Teacher AcademyPage 1 of 6