Ratio - Ratio and Proportion Problems (1) - Planning

In the second week of the Spring term, Year 6 students delve into the world of Ratio and Proportion Problems. This lesson aims to consolidate their understanding by applying previously learned skills to various real-life scenarios. The class begins with a refresher of the key vocabulary, such as 'bar model', 'ratio', 'shape', 'represent', 'part', and 'whole', which are essential for grasping the lesson's concepts. The students are then presented with a practical application: adjusting a soup recipe to cater for different numbers of people. They discuss how to use scale factors to alter the quantities of ingredients, practicing multiplication and division to adapt the recipe for 3, 9, and 1 serving. This activity helps students visualise and calculate the necessary adjustments to ingredient amounts.

Further exploring the concept of value for money, the class compares chili prices between two shops. Through partner discussions, they define 'value for money' and calculate the cost per gram of chili at each shop to determine which offers the better deal. This exercise requires them to understand and apply the concepts of ratio and unit pricing. Group work encourages collaboration as children tackle Reasoning 1 from the teaching slides, with independent tasks on differentiated worksheets to follow. The lesson concludes with a self-reflective 'Give me five' plenary, where students review what they've learned, the skills they've utilised such as scale factors and bar modelling, and what they found challenging. They also make a 'pinkie promise' to remember key takeaways from the lesson, ensuring they can apply their knowledge to problems with varying degrees of complexity, from simple to more intricate measurements and missing information.