Endcap Design Project
In this 10-day, integrated unit plan, students learn about rates and ratios. Students first learn how to identify and write ratios, then they learn how to solve equivalent ratios and measurement conversions, and have the opportunity to apply them to a real-world situation. In the latter part of the unit, the class receives a fictional request from a European client in which they must design a store endcap. In the process, they will apply their ratio, rate, and conversion knowledge to design the endcap for the European market.
Endcap Design Project
In this 10-day, integrated unit plan, students learn about rates and ratios. Students first learn how to identify and write ratios, then they learn how to solve equivalent ratios and measurement conversions, and have the opportunity to apply them to a real-world situation. In the latter part of the unit, the class receives a fictional request from a European client in which they must design a store endcap. In the process, they will apply their ratio, rate, and conversion knowledge to design the endcap for the European market.
English Arts
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
Fine Arts
Participate in appropriate exhibition(s) of works of art to develop identity of self as artist.
Mathematics
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. *For example, “The ratio of wings to beaks in the bird house at the zoo was 2:1, because for every 2 wings there was 1 beak.” “For every vote candidate A received, candidate C received nearly three votes.”*
Understand the concept of a unit rate *a/b* associated with a ratio *a:b* with *b ≠ 0* (*b* not equal to zero), and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship. *For example, "This recipe has a ratio of 3 cups of flour to 4 cups of sugar, so there is 3/4 cup of flour for each cup of sugar." "We paid $75 for 15 hamburgers, which is a rate of $5 per hamburger."*
Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems utilizing strategies such as tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams (bar models), double number line diagrams, and/or equations.
Make tables of equivalent ratios relating quantities with whole-number measurements, find missing values in the tables, and plot the pairs of values on the coordinate plane. Use tables to compare ratios.
Solve unit rate problems including those involving unit pricing and constant speed. *For example, If it took 7 hours to mow 4 lawns, then at that rate, how many lawns could be mowed in 35 hours? At what rate were lawns being mowed?*
Given a conversion factor, use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units within one system of measurement and between two systems of measurements (customary and metric); manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities. *For example, given 1 in. = 2.54 cm, how many centimeters are in 6 inches?*
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About the Teacher
Chandra Brandel
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Chandra believes her unique approach to math equips students to succeed in a competitive workforce. After working in banking for most of her professional life, she decided to leave the corporate world and begin teaching. Her corporate experience finds its way into every lesson, though, as she creates realistic projects that provide her students with opportunities to authentically apply math knowledge. Chandra was selected as a semifinalist for the 2018-2019 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year. She is currently teaching at Coleman Middle School and has been teaching at GCPS since 2005.
