Identifying Proportionality From Tables and Verbal Descriptions Lesson Plan
Overview
In this lesson, students will learn how to identify proportionality from tables and verbal descriptions through students’ discussion and problem solving. Students will use tables to help them process identifying proportionality. Then, students will practice with other tables and verbal descriptions with a partner or table group. You can expect this lesson with additional practice to take one `45`-minute class period.
ByteLearn gives students targeted feedback and hints based on their specific mistakes
Preview step-by-step-help
Objective
Students will be able to identify proportionality from tables and verbal descriptions.
Materials
- Teacher Slideshow
- Online Practice
How to Teach Identifying Proportionality From Tables and Verbal Descriptions
Warm-Up
To begin the lesson, provide students with an opportunity to fill in the table of values with context on their own. If students are stuck, it may help to let them know that the table represents a proportional relationship, so they can try to find a pattern in the table.
Copy these Google Slides for free
Once students have an opportunity to answer the questions independently, they should check their work and discuss their process with a partner or table group. Once students have an opportunity to share their thoughts, ask if anyone worked with someone who solved the problem a different way but got the same answers.
Different methods to finding missing values
The goal of having students discuss their methods is for students to understand that there are multiple ways they could look at the information given to help solve the proportion. Here are some ways students may look at the information:
- They will recognize that the number of tickets sold times `5` gives them the total price.
- They will recognize that as the number of tickets sold goes up by `1`, the total price goes up by `5`.
- They may use one of the filled in rows to calculate the unknown rows. For example, `1` is half of `2`, so the total price would be half of `$10`. If they doubled `2` tickets for `4` tickets, then they would double `$10`.
It is important that students understand there is more than one way to solve a problem like this. Once the table is completely filled in, ask students if the relationship is proportional and why. If there are any methods that students do not use but are mentioned above, it may be helpful to mention them directly to students. For some students, seeing a different method can help them understand the information, so it is generally best for students to know what options they have to help identify proportionality from tables and verbal descriptions.
Determining proportionality from descriptions
With the next example, it may be helpful to reiterate that a proportional relationship means there is a constant ratio. At this point in time, you do not need to focus on students identifying the constant of proportionality. The goal is for students to identify proportionality from tables and verbal descriptions using any mathematically correct method with the information they’re given.
Here are the different ways in which students might prove that this is a proportional relationship:
- They may find the unit rate (`2.5` cups of water per tablespoon of `\text{OJ}`)
- They may simplify the ratio of `\text{OJ}` to water `(2:5)`.
- They may also see if they can multiply or divide by the same numbers to go from `10` to `24` and `25` to `60` respectively.
Determining proportionality from a table
With this example, you want to emphasize that students need to find the ratio for every row in the table.
Students may set up a ratio for each row and simplify the ratio. Some might divide one column by the other to see if they get the same number. However, some might see right away that while `12\times 2=24, 20\times 2` is not `45`.
Last example as a class
By this example, students should be able to identify proportionality from the verbal description, even though this is presented more like a table. Allow students time to work and discuss if the image represents a proportional relationship.
Some students may think the relationship is proportional because the total cost goes up by the same amount every time; however, with the pattern, `0` cucumbers would cost `$1`. Other students may find the ratio of the number of cucumbers to cost or vice versa and recognize that each row has a different unit rate, so it does not represent a proportional relationship.
Conversion of units
Allow students to try this example on their own, and then have students check their work with a partner.
Some students may look at the given values and say it is not proportional without recognizing that the units for the amount of fabric was different. There should be some students who recognize that the units were changed, and will convert one of the given fabric lengths to the other unit, such as inches to yards or yards to inches.
Identifying Proportionality From Tables and Verbal Descriptions Practice
After you’ve completed the examples with the whole class, it’s time for some independent practice! ByteLearn gives you access to tons of practice problems for identifying proportionality from tables and verbal descriptions. Check out the online practice and assign to your students for classwork and/or homework!
View this practice