Lesson plan

Comparing speeds by using unit rates

  • From K-5 Math Companion Curriculum
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teaches Common Core State Standards 6.RP.A.3 http://corestandards.org/Math/Content/6/RP/A/3
teaches Common Core State Standards 6.RP.A.3.b http://corestandards.org/Math/Content/6/RP/A/3/b
teaches Common Core State Standards MP2 http://corestandards.org/Math/Practice/MP2
teaches Common Core State Standards MP5 http://corestandards.org/Math/Practice/MP5
teaches Common Core State Standards MP7 http://corestandards.org/Math/Practice/MP7
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Big Ideas: Unit rates make it easy to compare rates of speed. Tape diagrams are a visual tool that can be used to compare unit rates when one of the units is distance. This lesson builds upon an understanding of equivalent fractions and ratio reasoning. In this lesson, students are asked to judge a tortoise race to see who is the fastest tortoise when the tortoises have run different distances. This lesson leads to an understanding of rate relationships and how they can be used to compare rates of speed when different distances are traveled, and builds towards proportional reasoning that students will study in grades 7 and 8. Special Materials: Fraction bars (optional) Unifix cubes (optional) Tape measure (optional) Ruler (optional)