6.RP.A.3 Tape Diagram Task Cards - Middle School Math Stations

Are you using tape diagrams in the classroom?

Many teachers and students don’t know what tape diagrams are. However, according to the common core standards, we should be using tape diagrams to work with ratios in 6th grade math. Tape diagrams are also used in earlier grades for various skills, so some students should be familiar with them.

Tape diagrams make working with ratios much easier to visualize. Once you get the hang of it, they are fun to work with.

Stations activities are a great way to warm up or review. Get those kids out of their seats and watch the gears in their brains start moving!

CONTENTS:

• 4 Examples explained
• 20 Stations: Use a tape diagram to solve ratio problems
• Student Worksheet Options
• Answer Keys
• 6.RP Standards Posters

HOW CAN YOU USE THIS ACTIVITY?

• Use as a 20-station carousel activity.
• Use a card (or a few) for a warm-up or ticket out the door.
• Assign some cards for homework.

HOW CAN YOU USE THIS RESOURCE?

Cut out and laminate stations so you can use them every class period and every year!

I typically have students work in partners, but BOTH of them have to fill out the student information sheet, showing work. Students could also work individually. Working with more than one person gets too crowded, and some students skate by without participating at all.

Each group will start at a station. They will be given a certain amount of time to complete each task. At the end of the time, they will switch to the next station. Example: If a student starts at station 1, they will go to station 2. If they are at station 20, they will go to station 1.

There should never be more than two people at a station (unless you have more than 40 students…).

Encourage (or require) students to write down EVERY problem so that if they run out of time on one station, they can finish earlier problems at another station.

Give students a specific time to complete each task. (1-2 min) Use a timer that goes off to help students know when to switch stations. This way, when the timer goes off, students will just get up and move without direction. Determine the amount of time based on the skill set of each group. I give some classes more time than others if needed. If I start with 2 minutes and all of the students are finishing quickly, I will decrease the time as we go. Usually 2 minutes is too much!

I use this resource every year in the middle school math classroom. It can take up to a whole class period depending how much time is given to the students per station.

ASSESSMENT/GRADING

• I observe the students during the activity and offer help if needed. After the activity, I collect their worksheet. This activity can be graded on accuracy or for effort or completion. If grading for effort/completion, make sure that the students show work and attempt all questions!

COMMON CORE STANDARDS:

Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3:

• Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, e.g., by reasoning about tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, double number line diagrams, or equations.

Before you buy, note: This product is part of my Complete Bundle of Math Stations and Task Cards

Check out some other station activities:

• Slope and Linear Equations Stations
• Ratios and Proportional Relationships
• Integer Operations
• Slope of a Line Middle School Math Stations
• Area of Polygons (CCSS 6.G.1)