Year 6 Maths Lesson Plan: Ratio and Proportion
Free Year 6 maths lesson plan on ratio and proportion. Simplify ratios, share quantities in a ratio, and solve real-life proportion problems.
Learning objective
I can simplify ratios, share an amount in a given ratio, and solve real-life proportion problems.
Key vocabulary
- ratio
- proportion
- share
- scale
- equivalent
Curriculum: National Curriculum 2014: Year 6 Mathematics — Ratio and proportion
Starter (5-10 minutes)
Show a recipe for shortbread serving 4 (200g flour, 100g butter, 50g sugar). Pupils write the ratio of flour : butter : sugar and simplify (4:2:1).
Main activity (35-40 minutes)
Model sharing 24 sweets in the ratio 1:2:3 by treating it as 6 equal parts. Pupils share three different totals in given ratios. Move to scaling a recipe: 'The shortbread recipe serves 4. How much of each ingredient is needed for 10 people?' Use the unitary method (find for one, then multiply). Final task: a real-life problem — 'On a school trip there must be 1 adult for every 8 pupils. There are 56 pupils. How many adults are needed?'
Differentiation
Support
Use counters to physically share quantities. Stick to two-part ratios.
Core
Simplify ratios, share in two- or three-part ratios, and apply proportional reasoning to recipes and real-life contexts.
Stretch
Solve missing-value problems (e.g. ratio is 3:5, total is 24 — what are the parts?) and apply to scale-drawing problems.
Plenary (5-10 minutes)
Discuss the difference between ratio and proportion using the recipe example: ratio expresses how much of each (4:2:1), proportion expresses each as a fraction of the whole (4/7 flour, 2/7 butter, 1/7 sugar).
Common misconception to watch for
Pupils often treat a ratio of 1:2 as meaning 1/2 of the total rather than 1 of every 3 parts. Use bar models to make the share-of-the-whole visible.
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Generate this lesson freeFrequently asked questions
What is the learning objective of this Year 6 maths lesson?
I can simplify ratios, share an amount in a given ratio, and solve real-life proportion problems.
How long does this ratio and proportion lesson take?
60 minutes, structured into a starter, main activity, and plenary. Differentiation guidance is included for support, core, and stretch learners.
Is this lesson plan free to download?
Yes. The full plan is free to read and adapt. You can also generate an editable, fully resourced version in TAyumira's free lesson planner — no credit card required.
Does this lesson cover the UK National Curriculum?
Yes. This plan aligns with National Curriculum 2014: Year 6 Mathematics — Ratio and proportion.
Can I edit this lesson plan for my class?
Yes. Use this as a template and adapt to your class context. To save typing time, generate a customised version in TAyumira's free planner — your class size, ability range, and lesson length are factored in automatically.