Text Set Collection on Teaching Ratios and Proportions

                                                           Books:

• If You Hopped Like a Frog

           David M. Schwartz                  

            Ages:  7-10 (but I think you could use it in Middle School)                                                  

This would be a very neat way to open the discussion about ratios and proportions.  In this book, the author takes you through what it would be like to be various animals.  Based on the proportion of the animal to other objects determines body mechanics and what they are capable of doing.  "By applying these ratios and proportions to their own bodies, readers will discover what they could do if they had the amazing abilities of animals."

• Space Word Problems Starring Ratios and Proportions, Math Word Problems Solved

           Rebecca Wingard-Nelson
         
           Ages:  7 and up

This book is fully illustrated and gives you sample ratio and proportion problems to solve.  This would be a fun break for any age from the general textbook.

• Comparing and Scaling:  Ratio, proportion, and Percent (Connected Mathematics 2, Grade 7)

           Glenda Lappan, James T. Frey, William M. Fitzgerald, Susan N. Friel, Elizabeth Difanis      
           Philips
           Ages: Teacher

Each section has a unit opener, investigations, homework ideas, online codes for web information and practice, and ideas about projects.  This would be a great teacher resource.



                                             Lesson and Activity Websites:

• Home School Math.net

           Ages: 11-14


           http://www.homeschoolmath.net/teaching/proportions.php


This is a great site because it walks you through how to do math problems step by step and is geared toward middle school aged students.  There are also other links for students to access that give them more examples and practice.

• Math.com

           Ages:  11-18

         

            http://www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U2L1DP.html

This is similar to reading and learning math from a textbook, but it is online.  It starts with a simple explanation, then goes more in depth, The gives examples, then let's you try.  Once you complete these tasks, it starts over and gives another problem to work through.

• Lesson Planet

          Ages:  Teacher

           http://www.lessonplanet.com/lesson-plans/ratios-and-proportions

This is a great source for teachers to get lesson plan ideas.  The have more than just math, so you could look at any subject.

                                                                      Videos:

• The Dunk Tank

           Ages:  9-15

           http://files.pbslearningmedia.org/dlos/wnet/dlo4.html

This is a wonderful interactive game.  There is a narrator that explains how to play the game.  He explains the vocabulary first and gives an example of how to do a problem.  Then you can start playing the game.  The object is to get the answers correct and dunk the animals in the dunk tank.

• You Tube

           Ages:  12-18

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQaWsVQSLdY

This is a basic explanation of ratios and proportions.  It would make sense to most kids because he references body parts as examples.  It's short and to the point so most kids will listen for that period of time.

• PBS

          Ages:  9-13

    

           http://edcar-cdn.pbs.org/u/pr/KAET/%20Scale%20Factors%20-%20Ratios%20and%20Proportions%20(Statue%20of%20Liberty)%20Math%20Interactive_fc8a5cde-654c-43cb-a727-fd5ec1608064/lesson166.swf

This is another interactive site.  What I liked is that it used maps and the Statue of Liberty which are things that can be cross curricular.  It gives definitions and examples first and allows the strident to keep their own pace.  There is also a section similar to flashcards.

• You Tube:  Math Snacks: Ratey the Math Cat

           Ages 10-18

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVxRByQOwf4

This is a funny little video.  I think it is amusing enough to capture the student's attention.