How can we, as theme park designers, use ratios to create a fun and profitable park for our patrons?

This course uses a project-based learning approach. Real-world examples will make learning about ratios fun! Learners will take on the role of a theme park designer. We'll cover mathematical concepts related to ratios, rates, proportions, and geometry. We'll practice problems with real-world scenarios. Learners will apply their knowledge by creating their part of the amusement park project. 

Learners will collaborate to brainstorm, practice, create, and revise their theme park ideas. We'll use the Outschool platform to share questions and practice problems. Post problems for the other learners to solve and share your mathematical thinking.  We'll use Padlet.com to post ideas and solutions for our theme park project.

Each topic in this course will include digital worksheets with practice problems. Learners will experience teacher-led video instruction. You will receive guidance through each concept and step in the project. We'll learn strategies for solving word problems using ratios and proportions.

Course Breakdown:

Class 1
What is a ratio? Learners will define ratios and practice expressing ratios in different forms.
What can we compare? Learners will explore the real number system and the connection between rational numbers and ratios.
What are the types of ratios? Learners will explore part-to-part and part-to-whole ratios.

Student Interactions:
Learners will use Padlet.com to generate "Need to Knows." Identify concepts you will need to understand to complete your amusement park plans. Learners will also post examples of "Ratios in the Wild," ratios they notice in everyday life.

Students will receive practice problems.  Post solutions and ask questions though Outschool's video an chat features. Students will also create their own ratio problems for other learners to answer.

Class 2
How can we convert ratios? Learners will review division concepts. Divide a fraction to create a decimal. Convert a decimal to a fraction and simplify, and calculate percentages.
How can we solve problems with ratios? Learners will complete practice problems to calculate and compare part-to-part and part-to-whole ratios. Decipher important vs. distracting information in word problems.

Student Interactions
Learners will continue to use Padlet to share their progress. They will design a game that uses part-to-part or part-to-whole ratios. Learners will also explore ratios in the visitors to their park. For example, think of a ratio you would use in ticket prices. Kids Get in Free: How many kids per paying adult to still be profitable? Group Discounts: Ex. for every 5 people that pay to come in the 6th is free.

Class 3
What are Proportions? Learners will explore how to solve proportions. Learners will use the identity property of multiplication. Learn to compare like terms and units.
Learners will practice proportion word problems.  

Student Interactions
Learners will create a rough draft of their final theme park contribution. On Padlet, learners will share how big their attraction will be and what it will look like, and how it will move and how fast it will go. 
Students can post example proportion problems. Share videos of how to solve the problems and share your mathematical thinking.
We will complete a find the error activity. We'll look at proportion solutions and determine what mistake was made. (part-to-whole vs. part-to-part or incorrect decimal to fraction conversion.)

Class 4
What are rates? What is a unit rate? Learners will explore how to use proportions to calculate unit rates. We'll also use proportions to practice converting units with proportion & rate word problems. Learners will explore questions like, "What is the better deal?" and "Which car is faster?"

Student Interactions
Learners will continue to revise their theme park plans and share on Padlet.
Ride rates - How fast will your ride go? Convert to miles/hour and kilometers/hour. How many people will be able to go on your ride per day? How many tickets will you collect per ride? Per day? How much money will you earn per person? Per ride?

Class 5
Where are ratios in geometry? Learners will explore Pi, the Golden Ratio, and scale. We'll learn how to use proportions to create scale drawings. Learners will create a scale drawing to design their theme park attraction.

Learners will  celebrate completing their theme park together!

Student Interactions
Learners will share their ride designs with a scale drawing. Learners can share a birds-eye view and a front view
If learners want to do more, do a whole-park layout!