Scale Drawings & Scale Factors Lesson Plan

Overview

Ever wondered how to teach Scale Drawings and Scale Factors in an engaging way to your 7th-grade students? In this lesson plan, students will learn about scale drawings, scale factors, scale models, cross products, proportions and their real-life applications.

Through artistic, interactive guided notes, check for understanding, a maze worksheet, color by number, and a real-life application example, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of scale drawings and scale factors.

Get the Lesson Materials

Scale Drawings Scale Factors Guided Notes & Doodles | Map Scale & Scaled Copies

Scale Drawings Scale Factors Guided Notes & Doodles | Map Scale & Scaled Copies

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Learning Objectives

After this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Define scale drawings, scale factors, scale models, and map scales

  • Solve problems involving map scales, scale factors, and scale drawings using cross products and proportions

  • Determine the scale factors of two similar figures

  • Identify real life application of scale drawings like creating blueprint for a building

Prerequisites

Before this lesson, students should be familiar with:

  • Basic multiplication and division skills

  • Understanding of the concepts of factors and multiples

  • Basic understanding of equivalent fractions

Materials

Key Vocabulary

  • Scale drawing

  • Scale factor

  • Scale model

  • Proportions

  • Map scale

  • Cross products

  • Similar figures

Procedure

Introduction

As a hook, ask students why architects use blueprints when designing new buildings. This lesson plan will teach students about scale drawings and scale factors, which are used by architects and other professionals to create blueprints and models of structures before they are built.

Use the guided notes to introduce scale drawings and scale factors. Walk through the key definitions of scale drawings and proportions in the guided notes. Refer to the FAQ below for a walk through on this, as well as ideas on how to respond to common student questions.

Have students walk through the “You Try!” section. Call on students to talk through their answers, potentially on the whiteboard or projector. Based on student responses, reteach concepts that students need extra help with.

Based on student responses, reteach concepts that students need extra help with. If your class has a wide range of proficiency levels, you can pull out students for reteaching, and have more advanced students begin work on the practice exercises.

Practice

Have students practice solving problems involving scale factors and scale drawings using the maze worksheet. Walk around to answer student questions.

Fast finishers can dive into the Color by Number activity for extra practice. You can assign it as homework for the remainder of the class.

Real-Life Application

Bring the class back together, and introduce the concept of using scale drawings to create blueprints for buildings. Show examples of blueprints and how they are used in the construction of buildings. Refer to the FAQ for more ideas on how to teach this topic!

Extensions

Additional self-checking digital practice

"If you’re looking for digital practice for Scale Drawings and Scale Factors, try my Pixel Art activities in Google Sheets. Every answer is automatically checked, and correct answers unlock parts of a mystery picture. It’s incredibly fun, and a powerful tool for differentiation.

Here are 1 activity to explore:

Additional print practice

A fun, no-prep way to practice scale drawings and scale factors is Doodle & Color by Number — they’re a fresh take on color by number or color by code. It includes multiple levels of practice, perfect for a review day or sub plan.

Here are 1 activity to explore:

FAQs

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