Math lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes
Unit rates with fractions (complex fractions)
Ratio and proportion
CCSS 7.RP.A.1England: KS3 Ratio, proportion and rates of change
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Unit rates with fractions (complex fractions).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Unit rates; Divide fractions by fractions
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Bar models, Double number lines, Ratio tables, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Unit rates; Divide fractions by fractions). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 3 notebooks cost $42. What is the cost of one notebook? (Type the number only.) → 14Prompt: A unit rate is the amount for ONE.
- 1/2 ÷ 5/6 = ? Give your answer in simplest form. → 3/5Prompt: Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.
- Amara travels 189 miles in 3 hours at a steady speed. How far does Amara travel in one hour? → 63Prompt: Find the distance for one hour.
Hook · 3 min
- Share a recipe for 4 people and ask how much is needed for 6.
- Share the objective: Unit rates with fractions (complex fractions). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Felix walks 3/2 mile in 1/6 hour. What is Felix's speed in miles per hour? Give a whole number, fraction or mixed number.
- Step 1: 3/2 Ă· 1/6 = 3/2 Ă— 6/1 = 18/2
- Step 2: = 9 mph
- Answer: 9
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Tariq walks 1/3 mile in 1/4 hour. What is Tariq's speed in miles per hour? Give a whole number, fraction or mixed number. → 4/3 (1 1/3)Prompt: Speed = distance ÷ time.
- 3/4 litre of paint covers 2/5 m² of wall. How many litres are needed per square metre? → 15/8 (1 7/8)Prompt: “Per square metre” means divide by the area.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 3/5 litre of paint covers 3/4 m² of wall. How many litres are needed per square metre? → 4/5Prompt: “Per square metre” means divide by the area.
- Leo walks 1/3 mile in 1/6 hour. What is Leo's speed in miles per hour? Give a whole number, fraction or mixed number. → 2Prompt: Speed = distance ÷ time.
Watch out for
- Adding the same amount to both parts instead of multiplying.
- Mixing up part-to-part and part-to-whole ratios.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Unit rates.
- Use concrete materials: bar models.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder