Making a Map Scale Using Ratios

I'm not sure what all of you are hearing about Common Core, but we are hearing a lot about using real-life situations to help students grasp concepts! It's a little frightening to me sometimes, but I also know that real-life problems are, well, what kids are going to face throughout life! (That sounds so dumb when I type it out...)


Anyway, we were focusing on ratios in our math textbook. (Please don't lecture me about using the book - I know!) The students were doing well with it, but yet it wasn't really sticking... With a few days left before Christmas break, I decided it was time to do a hands-on activity.

6.RP.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.

 

 

I put these instructions on the board and we went through some examples. I specified exactly what I wanted them to measure and write down. (the actual room measurements, the two small tables in our room, the reading corner, and each group member's desk)

 

 

 

Then they got to work with rulers and yardsticks.

 

It took them nearly three hours, but they got it all measured out! (Thank goodness for the craziness of Christmas that allowed us to devote more time to this project!)

 

While some of the completed projects were off base, everyone was at least in the right ball park! And - the best part - EVERYONE did well on the next math test!! YEA!!! (This hasn't always been the case this year, so I was thrilled that this real-life project improved their test scores!)

 

 

Note to self - create a rubric for this next time! AND have students write down the actual measurements on the paper. These were a bit of a nightmare to grade...

 

 

What other hands-on activities have you tried? I'm always looking for new ideas!

~HoJo~