The software program Prime Time Math – Cliffbound is a dramatic simulation of a cliff rescue in which the concepts of rates and ratios are presented to the student in a true to life context. This program will be used in conjunction with text material. The 7th grade math class recently completed an introductory unit on percent and is starting the next unit: Proportion, Percent and Probability. The first section in the new unit focuses on rates and ratios. Cliffbound will complement this section of the text unit. The software will enhance the students’ ability to solve authentic problems concerning these concepts. As this software presentation is ideally suited to build on and expand prior knowledge, students will review the rates and ratio section immediately prior to the software presentation.

Background information: Students will be familiar with the following basic concepts as suggested in the software literature:

1. Simplifying and finding equivalent fractions
2. Basic understanding of ratios
3. Converting ratios to fraction format
4. Using numerical expressions

 The software will be presented to an inclusive mathematics class of sixteen 7^th grade students utilizing a single computer and large screen monitor. The teacher will assign students to work in groups of four. This software presentation requires independent work, collaborative group work and teacher led discussion.

This unit segment of study will take a minimum four days to complete and will include the following:

Day 1: Text work – Exploring Rates and Ratios

Check for understanding, Guided practice, Independent – class and homework

Day 2: Text Review; Cliffbound Act 1*

Day 3: Cliffbound Act 2, Review and discussion

Day 4: Cliffbound Act 3, Review and discussion

* Lesson Plan follows

Students will enhance their ability to solve rate and ratio problems as they pertain to authentic life situations and communicate their reasoning in written and oral form.

Students will be able to:

• Define rate and ratio
• Solve distance problems given two variables
• Apply the concepts of rates and ratios in problem solving
• Defend their problem solving strategy

1. Computer and large screen monitor
2. Text
3. Software: Prime Time Math – Cliffbound - installed and preferences set
4. Act 1 software worksheets for each student
5. Act 1 software homework assignment for each student
6. Supplemental homework sheet for each student
7. Software instructional booklet
8. Calculators (4)

1. Review of previous day’s independent practice assignment
2. Discuss the concepts as they pertain to real life activities
3. Establish groups of four
4. Discuss group work fundamentals

 

Anticipatory Set

5. Introduce Prime Time Math – Cliffbound
6. Ask what kinds of math problems they (students) think may be encountered in the presentation – Teacher led discussion
7. Hand out software worksheets
8. Explain how they will be used

 

Strategy / Activities

9. Start software presentation – select Act 1

11. Watch Act 1

Instruct students to watch only

12. Replay Act 1 (may also be necessary with Act 2)

Instruct students to take notes on their worksheets

13. Replay segments as needed

 

Checking for Understanding and Guided Practice

14. Students complete worksheet questions for Act 1

2 to 3 individual questions

1 group question

Ask for problems and have software give hints if necessary

15. Start answer round – whole class activity

Work through incorrect answers

Evaluate and score answer strategy

 

Closure and Independent Practice

16. Play the Homework Commercial
17. Pass out Software and additional text homework assignments
18. Review Act 1 – Teacher led question and answer session

Evaluation for this day’s lesson will be done through observation of independent and group work activities with a focus on the verbal strategy responses. Individual student homework assignments will be graded. The final unit exam will contain authentic ratio and rate problems similar to those presented in the software presentation.

 As this day’s lesson may run tight on time, it may be advantageous to break after viewing Act 1 for the first time and completing Act 1 on the following day. Act 2 lesson will follow similarly to Act 1 with an answer round and related homework. Following Act 3 there will be a review of the software presentation including a discussion regarding the value of authentic tasks and having students create new real life math problems to share with the class. This lesson is a perfect lead in to the current unit’s next segment that focuses on proportions.

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