Math Accelerated Lesson

Is It Proportional? Reading Situations Through a Mathematical Lens

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7th grade - honorsBTC Style / Thinking Classrooms50 min

Learning Objective

Students will determine whether a verbal situation represents a proportional relationship by identifying whether the ratio between quantities remains constant and whether the relationship passes through the origin.

Lesson Overview

Students progress from identifying proportional relationships in simple verbal situations to analyzing complex multi-condition scenarios, changing only one feature of complexity at a time. The lesson builds toward students justifying proportionality using the language of constant ratios and passing through the origin.

Materials

Vertical whiteboards or large chart paper
Dry-erase markers (multiple colors)
Pencils and paper for notes

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

A faucet drips at a steady rate. After 1 minute, 3 cups of water have dripped. After 2 minutes, 6 cups. After 3 minutes, 9 cups. After 4 minutes, 12 cups.

Is this situation proportional? Explain your reasoning in at least two complete sentences using the word 'ratio.'

2Task 2

A car travels at a steady speed. After 2 hours it has gone 90 miles. After 5 hours it has gone 225 miles.

Only two data points are given. Is this enough to conclude the relationship is proportional? Explain your reasoning. If yes, state the unit rate.

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