This 3-week unit plan, "Proportional Relationships," is designed for students studying mathematics at any academic stage. The goal of this course is to provide students with a deep understanding of proportional relationships, including how to model them, solve problems using proportional reasoning, and describe examples of proportional relationships. Through engaging activities and practice, students will be able to apply proportional thinking to real-world situations. This course includes a mixture of whole-class, small-group, and independent work to ensure that all learners are supported and challenged.
Week 1: Introduction to Proportional Relationships
Day 1: Do Now
- Review of basic arithmetic operations and fractions
Day 2: Mini Lesson
- Introduction to proportional relationships
- Identifying proportional relationships in tables and graphs
- Representing proportional relationships using equations
Day 3: Practice
- Identifying proportional relationship in real-world situations
- Solving problems using proportional reasoning
- Representing proportional relationships using tables and graphs
Day 4: Exit Ticket
- Assessing understanding of proportional relationships in tables and graphs
Week 2: Applications of Proportional Relationships
Day 5: Do Now
- Review of Week 1 concepts
Day 6: Mini Lesson
- Applications of proportional relationships in real-world situations
- Proportional thinking in financial situations
Day 7: Practice
- Applying proportional thinking to real-world financial situations
- Comparing proportional relationships
Day 8: Exit Ticket
- Assessing understanding of financial proportional relationships
Week 3: Solving Problems with Proportional Relationships
Day 9: Do Now
- Review of Week 2 concepts
Day 10: Mini Lesson
- Solving problems using proportional reasoning
- Using multiple methods to solve proportional problems
Day 11: Practice
- Solving proportional relationship problems using tables, graphs, and equations
- Review of multiple methods for solving proportional relationship problems
Day 12: Exit Ticket
- Assessing understanding of solving proportional relationship problems
Week 4: Applying Proportional Relationships to Real-World Scenarios
Day 13: Do Now
- Review of previous concepts
Day 14: Mini Lesson
- Applications of proportional relationships to real-world scenarios
- Interpreting graphs and tables to make predictions
Day 15: Practice
- Applying proportional thinking to real-world scenarios
- Using tables and graphs to make predictions
Day 16: Exit Ticket
- Assessing understanding of making predictions using proportional relationships
Week 5: Algebraic Representations of Proportional Relationships
Day 17: Do Now
- Review of previous concepts
Day 18: Mini Lesson
- Algebraic representations of proportional relationships
- Identifying slope and y-intercept in proportional relationship equations
Day 19: Practice
- Writing proportional relationship equations from tables and graphs
- Identifying slope and y-intercept in proportional relationship equations
Day 20: Exit Ticket
- Assessing understanding of algebraic representations of proportional relationships.
Week 6: Putting it All Together
Day 21: Do Now
- Review of previous concepts
Day 22: Mini Lesson
- Review of all previous concepts
- Real-life applications of proportional reasoning
Day 23: Practice
- Applying proportional reasoning to complex, real-world scenarios
- Group project to apply proportional reasoning in unique contexts
Day 24: Exit Ticket
- Assessing overall understanding of proportional reasoning
Week 7: Review and Assessment
Day 25: Do Now
- Review of previous concepts
Day 26: Mini Lesson
- Review of all previous concepts
- Assessment preparation
Day 27: Practice
- Group work to review for assessment
- Individual work time for practice problems
Day 28: Assessment
- Individual assessment to assess understanding of proportional relationships.
Day 29: Reflection
- Reflection on course learning
- Setting goals for future learning in mathematics
Day 30: Course Wrap-Up
- Celebration of learning and hard work
- Sharing and presenting group projects
References
- Charles, R., & Leslie, R. (2019). The Mathematics Behind Proportional Relationships: Connections to Algebra. Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College, 10(2), 77-86.
- H. Laun, K. E. Kopp, K. L. Breitenbach, & T. Holly (2016). Proportional reasoning: A review of the literature. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 44, 167-184.
- NCTM. (2014). Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematics Success for All. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
- Silverman, J., & Thompson, P. W. (2015). Toward a Framework for the Development of Mathematical Practices. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 17(1), 1-21.