The Perfect Neon Green Paint Disaster: Understanding Ratios & Equivalence with Tape Diagrams
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Students will be able to write, interpret, and find equivalent ratios using tape diagrams, and apply ratio reasoning to solve real-world scaling problems (CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.1, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3).
Lesson Overview
Students discover ratio concepts and equivalence by scaling a paint mixture (yellow to blue) using tape diagrams, progressing from reading a basic ratio to scaling it to fill a gymnasium. Tasks change only one variable at a time to build deep conceptual understanding.
Materials
- Vertical whiteboards or large chart paper
- Dry-erase markers (multiple colors)
- Rulers or straightedges
- Random grouping cards
- Four-quadrant note-taking template (half-sheet)
- Calculators (for ceiling tasks only)
Scaffolded Task Progression
Draw a tape diagram that shows this recipe for ONE batch.
Label each section. Then answer:
• How many parts yellow?
• How many parts blue?
• How many parts total?
[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]
Using your tape diagram from Task 1, write the ratio of yellow to blue in THREE forms:
• Using the word 'to'
• Using a colon ( : )
• Using a fraction
Then write one sentence describing what your ratio means in the paint context.
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