Objective: To be able to explain and calculate unit rates and demonstrate understanding of the distributive property.

Warm Up Activity: (5 minutes)

Have students grab a whiteboard/dry erase and marker and pair off. Instruct students to write a multiplication problem (such as 12 x 6) on their whiteboard, and then to solve it using the distributive property. Ask the groups to each share the problem they chose, their solution, and the answer.

Introducing the Material: (15 minutes)

Explain to students what a unit rate is, using examples of rates commonly encountered in real-life situations (e.g. 30 miles/hour). Explain what the distributive property is and why it’s important when dealing with unit rates.

Activity 1: (10 minutes)

Give each student a page with several roleplaying-style scenarios—each one involving a calculation of a unit rate. Ask them to calculate the rate in each scenario and then interpret what the rate means.

Activity 2: (10 minutes)

Divide the class into groups of 4-5 students. Give each group a box with several cards in it, each one containing either a multiplication or addition problem. Tell them to first use the distributive property to simplify each equation. Then, ask them to use a unit rate to solve the equation and arrive at a clear answer.

Closing Activity: (5 minutes)

Ask each student to give one example of a real-life situation in which they might use the distributive property and/or unit rate to solve a problem.

Assessment:

Provide a full-class assessment by having each student solve a problem (on paper or on individual whiteboards) involving both the distributive property and unit rates.