Ratio - Introducing the Ratio Symbol - Planning

In a Year 6 maths lesson centred around the introduction of the ratio symbol, students embark on a journey to understand and utilise the colon notation in expressing ratios. The lesson's resources include worksheets and a presentation, which are supplemented by vocabulary cards available on the website. The key vocabulary terms such as 'ratio', 'symbol', 'part', and 'whole' lay the foundation for the day's learning. The class begins with a recap of the phrase “for every..., there are...” to help children read ratios like 3 : 5 as “three to five”. The first activity has them using the colon symbol to express the relationship between different quantities, like the number of grey to red cubes, reinforcing the concept that the order of parts in a ratio is crucial. Students engage in partner discussions to further explore how ratios are read and understood.

As the lesson unfolds, students continue their exploration of ratios through a series of activities. They work in pairs to determine ratios of various items like turnips to garlic, and garlic to potatoes, using visual representations. Through these exercises, they learn that ratios are a count of quantities and cannot be simplified if there is no common factor greater than one. The lesson also delves into converting ratios to fractions, as seen when students calculate the fraction of yellow cubes in a ratio of yellow to green cubes. Independent learning is promoted through differentiated fluency and reasoning worksheets, while group work encourages collaboration and discussion. The plenary session revolves around key questions about ratio notation and common misconceptions, ensuring students understand the significance of the order in ratios and how to articulate them correctly. The lesson concludes with a reflective 'Give me five' activity where students recap what they've learned, the skills they've used and found tricky, and what they'll remember going forward. Differentiated outcomes are outlined, ranging from fluency in using pictorial representations to more complex problem-solving involving pattern identification and three-part ratios.