Ratio - Calculating Ratio (Activity) - Planning

In this interactive Year 6 lesson on ratio and proportion, students are engaged in understanding and calculating ratios. The session begins with a recap of previous learning and a discussion around the key concept of ratios, using the language 'for every' to compare different values. The class is supported by a presentation and vocabulary cards, with terms such as 'ratio', 'fraction', 'bar model', and 'representing' being central to the lesson. The initial activity involves using coloured counters to visually demonstrate how ratios work, emphasising that the order in which the ratio is written is significant. For instance, students explore the relationship between two colours of counters, observing patterns and understanding that the quantity of one set of counters is a multiple of the other, based on the given ratio.

Further activities build on this foundation, with students being challenged to determine the total of each colour counter when given the total number of counters. They utilise both physical counters and bar models to represent and solve these problems. The lesson also incorporates word problems to apply the concept of ratio to real-life scenarios. Throughout the lesson, key questions prompt students to reflect on their understanding, and common misconceptions are addressed to ensure clarity. As the lesson concludes, students are encouraged to reflect on their learning and the skills they've used or found challenging, promising to remember the day's key takeaways. Differentiated activities cater to varying levels of fluency, with some students using physical counters and bar model strips, while others progress to drawing their own representations in their books. The lesson is designed to cater to a range of abilities, from working towards fluency to achieving greater depth in understanding ratios.