When does Spaghetti and Meatballs Become Meatballs and Spaghetti?

Lakesha Heath, Comparing and Scaling CMPD2, Lincoln Heighs Academy

Final Unit (PDF)

Implementing Common Core Standards

200 Word Synopsis

This unit will cover how students can use ratios in solving proportions in recipes. At the beginning of the unit, students will read a book about a couple who are trying to decide how to set up for a dinner party at their house. After reading the book, students will see a new PowerPoint that was created with the same scenario, except the dilemma is not about having enough chairs, but making sure there is enough spaghetti and meatball for the guests.  The students will figure out how they can solve the proportion based on the recipe. After figuring out the recipe from the PowerPoint presentation, students will have a taste test lab on different recipes that will be modified.  Students will complete a worksheet on whether or not adding or subtracting key ingredients in recipes make a difference in taste. After completing the lab, the students will talk about the cooking show project.  The cooking show project will be an assessment used to test students’ knowledge on ratios and proportions.  Students will be broken into groups and given a recipe that they will need to modify for a certain amount of people.  Students will be graded on their recipe based on taste and recipe conversions after modification were made.