Promoting Success: Ratios and Proportions Activities and Games

Monday, May 12, 2014

Ratios and Proportions Activities and Games

Ratios and Proportions Videos, Online Games, Printable Activities

Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store.

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Before we begin, please check out these printable worksheets from my TPT store:

Ratios Worksheets 6th Grade Common Core

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Real World Ratio Word Problems

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10 Fun and Easy Activities for Teaching Ratios and Proportions in Middle School

Let’s face it—teaching ratios and proportions can feel like a balancing act. You want your students to master the math while also keeping them engaged and excited to learn. As a former middle school teacher, I know the struggle of finding activities that make math both meaningful and fun. That’s why I’ve put together a collection of my favorite hands-on games and creative challenges that are easy to implement. These activities not only help students grasp the concepts but also make your classroom buzz with energy and curiosity. Let’s dive in and make ratios and proportions the highlight of your next math lesson!

1. Ratio Scavenger Hunt

Objective: Identify and calculate real-life ratios.

How it works:Create a list of items students can find in the classroom or school (e.g., number of pencils to pens, red chairs to blue chairs, or windows to doors).

Students work in pairs or small groups to locate the items and calculate the ratios.

Groups present their findings and compare results with others.

Why it works: This activity ties math to the real world, encouraging observation and critical thinking.

2. Recipe Ratio Challenge

Objective: Adjust a recipe to practice scaling ratios up or down.

How it works:Provide a simple recipe (e.g., lemonade: 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, 4 lemons).

Assign groups to adjust the recipe to serve a different number of people, keeping the ingredients proportional.

Optional: Have students mix and taste their creations!

Why it works: Relatable and delicious, this activity makes math fun and practical.

3. Ratio Card Sort

Objective: Match equivalent ratios.

How it works:Create cards with ratios written in different forms (e.g., 1:2, 2:4, 4:8).

Mix them up, and have students work in pairs to match equivalent ratios.

As a challenge, include a few incorrect ratios to identify and exclude.

Why it works: Encourages problem-solving and builds understanding of ratio relationships.

4. Proportion Relay Race

Objective: Solve proportion problems quickly and accurately.

How it works:Divide the class into teams.

Set up stations around the room, each with a proportion problem.

Teams solve one problem at a station, then move to the next.

The first team to correctly solve all problems wins.

Why it works: Combines movement with learning, fostering teamwork and excitement.

5. Ratio Art Project

Objective: Create artwork using ratios to guide proportions.

How it works:Have students draw a grid (e.g., 1 cm squares) and then scale it up (e.g., 2 cm squares).

They transfer a simple image from the smaller grid to the larger grid, maintaining proportions.

Display the artwork as a gallery.

Why it works: Blends math and creativity, appealing to artistic learners.

6. Ratio Bingo

Objective: Reinforce ratio concepts in a game format.

How it works:Create bingo cards with ratios in various forms (e.g., fractions, colon form, "to" form).

Call out clues like "3:4" or "1/2," and students mark matching ratios on their cards.

Offer small prizes for winners.

Why it works: Adds excitement and competition to the learning process.

7. Mix It Up! Proportion Potion

Objective: Solve proportions by creating "magic potions."

How it works:Assign each group a potion recipe (e.g., 3 parts red liquid, 2 parts blue, 1 part yellow).

Students use colored water to mix the potion in correct proportions.

Challenge them to create different potion sizes while maintaining the same ratios.

Why it works: Interactive and visual, this activity helps solidify the concept of proportional relationships.

8. Sports Ratios

Objective: Use sports statistics to calculate and analyze ratios.

How it works:Provide students with real or hypothetical stats (e.g., goals scored to games played, free throws made to attempts).

Ask students to calculate and compare player or team ratios.

Have them decide which player or team has the best ratio and why.

Why it works: Makes learning relevant to sports enthusiasts.

9. Ratio Escape Room

Objective: Solve ratio problems to "escape."

How it works:Create a series of ratio-related puzzles (e.g., crack a code using equivalent ratios).

Design the activity with clues that build on one another, leading to the "escape."

Include a timer to add urgency.

Why it works: Promotes collaboration and critical thinking in a thrilling scenario.

10. Ratio Relay with Real Objects

Objective: Apply ratios to real-world objects through teamwork and hands-on learning.

How it works:Gather a variety of classroom items (e.g., markers, books, erasers, colored paper).

Divide students into teams and provide a list of ratio challenges (e.g., "Find a group of objects with a ratio of 2 red to 3 blue" or "Create a group where the ratio of pencils to erasers is 4:1").

Teams race to collect items and set up their ratios correctly.

The first team to complete all the challenges wins.

Why it works: This activity combines movement, collaboration, and critical thinking, making ratio practice interactive and memorable.