aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Mathematics
What age group	Year or Grade 7
What topic	Proportional reasoning
Quantity	1
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Engaging Introduction to Proportional Reasoning

Lesson Hook: The Mystery of the Missing Recipe

Imagine you’ve just received a mysterious package on your doorstep. Inside, you find a recipe card with a few ingredients missing. The only readable part is a note that says:

"To make the perfect batch of cookies, keep the proportions right!"

Class Activity: The Cookie Dilemma

Gather your students around and ask them to consider what the missing ingredients might be. To get them thinking critically about proportional reasoning, present the following scenario:

Scenario: You have the quantities for a basic cookie recipe that includes:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of butter

But you want to make half the amount of cookies. How much of each ingredient do you need?

Discussion Starters:

1. What does “proportion” mean to you?

   • Encourage students to share their definitions and experiences with proportions in cooking, crafting, or sports.

2. Why is it essential to maintain proportions when cooking?

   • Highlight the importance of proportions in achieving the desired outcome.

Lead-In Questions:

• What would happen if you doubled or tripled the recipe?
• How do we use proportional reasoning in our everyday lives?

Transition to the Lesson:

Now that we’ve encountered our cookie conundrum, we’ll dive into the world of proportional reasoning! By the end of today’s lesson, you’ll be able to tackle any recipe challenge, or even a mystery like this, using your skills in proportions!

Objective:

Students will learn to identify and apply proportional reasoning through real-life examples, starting with our cookie recipe and expanding into different contexts throughout the class.

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With this engaging scenario, students are hooked and eager to learn more about proportional reasoning, setting the stage for an interactive and informative lesson.