1 class periods of 60 minutes each
Small Groups
Students will have an opportunity to use rate reasoning and computational fluency to solve scaling problems related to the ancient pyramids of Egypt.
Please see the following website to ensure adequate mathematical background: http://schools.utah.gov/CURR/mathelem/Core/Ratios-Proportional/Standard3dG6.aspx Ensure students have an adequate contextual background by providing them with the history, location, construction, and purpose of the pyramids of Giza.
Students will need to have a working understanding of ratios. They must be able to accurately divide multi-digit numbers.
Standard 6.RP.3d Students will be able to use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems. Specifically, students will be able to use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities to create scale models of the pyramids.
The following guiding questions could be used to support struggling students.
Students can build a scale model of the pyramids.
Smith, Margaret Schwan, Victoria Bill, and Elizabeth K. Hughes. "Thinking Through a Lesson Protocol: Successfully Implementing High-Level Tasks." Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School 14. (October, 2008): 132-138