Lesson Plan
Proportionality Poster Power
Students will define and represent proportional relationships using tables, graphs, and equations, culminating in a creative poster project that demonstrates their understanding and ability to articulate these mathematical concepts.
Understanding proportional relationships is crucial not only for advanced mathematics but also for navigating real-world scenarios like scaling recipes, calculating rates, and understanding financial concepts.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Hands-on, creative project-based learning
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Slide Deck: Proportionality Posters, Poster board or large paper (1 per group), Markers, colored pencils, or crayons, Rulers, Proportionality Poster Rubric, and Proportionality Poster Worksheet
Prep
Prepare Materials & Review
15 minutes
- Review the Proportionality Poster Lesson Plan, Slide Deck: Proportionality Posters, Proportionality Poster Worksheet, and Proportionality Poster Rubric.
* Gather poster boards or large paper, markers, colored pencils, crayons, and rulers.
* Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the slide deck presentation.
* Print copies of the Proportionality Poster Worksheet (1 per group) and Proportionality Poster Rubric (1 per group or to display).
Step 1
Warm-Up & Introduction (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Begin with a quick warm-up question: "What does it mean for two things to be 'in proportion'? Think of an example from everyday life." (2 minutes)
* Have students share their ideas with a partner, then a few share with the class. (3 minutes)
* Present the Slide Deck: Proportionality Posters (Slides 1-3) to introduce the concept of proportional relationships and the day's activity: creating a poster. Explain that posters should clearly define proportional relationships and show how to represent them using tables, graphs, and equations. (5 minutes)
Step 2
Group Work & Poster Creation (30 minutes)
30 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group). (2 minutes)
* Distribute poster boards, art supplies, and the Proportionality Poster Worksheet to each group. Explain that the worksheet will guide their poster creation. (3 minutes)
* Circulate among groups, providing support, answering questions, and prompting deeper thinking. Encourage students to use examples from the worksheet or create their own. (20 minutes)
* Remind students to reference the Proportionality Poster Rubric to ensure they are meeting all requirements. (5 minutes)
Step 3
Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- With 5 minutes remaining, ask groups to pause their work and prepare for a quick share-out. (1 minute)
* Have each group quickly share one interesting discovery or challenge they faced while creating their poster. (3 minutes)
* Collect completed posters (or assign finishing touches as homework if needed). Briefly reiterate the importance of understanding proportional relationships and preview how this knowledge will be used in future lessons. (1 minute)
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Slide Deck
Poster Power: Proportionality!
Get ready to become a proportionality pro!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of proportional relationships. Briefly mention that they'll be showcasing their understanding creatively today.
What is a Proportional Relationship?
- Two quantities are proportional if one is a constant multiple of the other.
- This means they have a constant ratio.
- On a graph, it's a straight line that passes through the origin (0,0).
Explain what a proportional relationship is using clear, student-friendly language. Emphasize the constant ratio (constant of proportionality) and passing through the origin. Ask students for everyday examples.
Representing Proportional Relationships
Proportional relationships can be shown in different ways:
- Tables: A constant ratio (k) between y and x (y/x = k).
- Graphs: A straight line passing through the origin (0,0).
- Equations: In the form y = kx, where 'k' is the constant of proportionality.
Go over how to represent proportional relationships in different ways. Provide a simple example for each (e.g., cups of flour to cookies).
Your Poster Project!
In your groups, you will create a poster that:
- Defines proportional relationships in your own words.
- Shows an example of a proportional relationship.
- Represents this relationship using:
- A Table
- A Graph
- An Equation
- Explains the constant of proportionality.
Be creative and make it clear!
Explain the poster project. Remind students of the key components they need to include and that they will work in groups. Highlight the importance of clear explanations and visual appeal. Mention the worksheet and rubric.
Worksheet
Proportionality Poster Project Worksheet
Group Members:
Part 1: Define It!
-
In your own words, what is a proportional relationship?
-
What are the two key characteristics of a graph that shows a proportional relationship?
Part 2: Choose Your Example!
Think of a real-world scenario that demonstrates a proportional relationship. This will be the main example for your poster.
Our Real-World Example:
- Hint: Think about things that scale up or down predictably, like ingredients in a recipe, distance and time at a constant speed, or cost per item.
Part 3: Show It! (For Your Poster)
Now, represent your chosen proportional relationship in the following ways. You will transfer these ideas to your poster!
A. Table of Values
Create a table with at least 4 pairs of values that show your proportional relationship. Make sure the ratio (y/x) is constant.
| Input (x) | Output (y) | Ratio (y/x) |
|---|---|---|
What is your constant of proportionality (k)?
B. Graph It!
Describe how you will graph your proportional relationship. Remember the key characteristics!
- What will your x-axis represent?
- What will your y-axis represent?
- What scale will you use for your axes?
- Where will your line start?
C. Equation
Write the equation that represents your proportional relationship in the form y = kx.
Equation:
Part 4: Design Your Poster!
Sketch out your poster design below. Consider how you will arrange your definition, example, table, graph, and equation clearly and creatively.
Rubric
Proportionality Poster Project Rubric
| Criteria | 4 - Exceeds Expectations | 3 - Meets Expectations | 2 - Developing | 1 - Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition of Proportional Relationship | Clearly defines a proportional relationship in own words, including both key characteristics. | Defines a proportional relationship with both key characteristics. | Defines a proportional relationship but may be missing one key characteristic. | Definition is unclear or inaccurate, or missing both key characteristics. |
| Real-World Example | Presents a creative, clear, and accurate real-world example of a proportional relationship. | Presents a clear and accurate real-world example of a proportional relationship. | Presents an example that is somewhat clear or has minor inaccuracies in depicting proportionality. | Example is unclear, inaccurate, or not proportional. |
| Table of Values | Creates an accurate table with at least 4 data pairs where the ratio y/x is consistently shown and correct. | Creates an accurate table with at least 3 data pairs where the ratio y/x is consistently shown and correct. | Creates a table with some inaccuracies or fewer than 3 data pairs. | Table is incorrect or not provided. |
| Graph Representation | Creates an accurate graph that is a straight line, passes through the origin, and is clearly labeled with appropriate scales. | Creates an accurate graph that is a straight line and passes through the origin, with minor labeling omissions. | Graph is mostly accurate but may not be a straight line or pass through the origin, or has significant labeling errors. | Graph is incorrect, missing, or does not represent the relationship. |
| Equation Representation | Writes a correct equation in the form y = kx, clearly identifying the constant of proportionality (k). | Writes a correct equation in the form y = kx, but may not explicitly identify k. | Writes an equation with some errors, or an incorrect form. | Equation is incorrect or not provided. |
| Constant of Proportionality (k) | Clearly identifies and explains the meaning of the constant of proportionality (k) within the context of the example. | Identifies the constant of proportionality (k) and provides a basic explanation. | Identifies k but the explanation is unclear or missing. | Does not identify or explain the constant of proportionality. |
| Clarity & Presentation | Poster is exceptionally clear, well-organized, visually appealing, and demonstrates significant effort and creativity. | Poster is clear, organized, visually appealing, and demonstrates good effort. | Poster is somewhat organized but may lack visual appeal or clarity. | Poster is disorganized, difficult to understand, or shows minimal effort. |