Unit Plan 5 (Grade 7 Math): Percent Sense—Part, Whole, Percent
7th graders master percent reasoning by solving real-world problems involving discounts, markups, tips, and tax. They use proportions, equations, and benchmark percents for quick estimates, accuracy checks, and clear communication of multistep calculations.
Focus: Solve percent problems (discounts, markups, tips, tax) and estimate reasonableness with mental math.
Grade Level: 7
Subject Area: Mathematics (Ratios & Proportional Relationships)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This unit cements percent sense using proportional reasoning. Students flex between part–whole–percent forms, apply percent increase/decrease in real contexts (discounts, markups, tips, tax, fees, commission, simple interest), and use mental benchmarks (1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%) to estimate and check reasonableness. Emphasis: set up clear structures (equation or proportion), track units, and communicate decisions.
Essential Questions
- How do part, whole, percent relate, and which two do I need to find the third?
- How can benchmark percents help me estimate and check my answer quickly?
- How do percent operations model real life (discounts, tips, tax, markups, interest) and affect final price?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Translate words and data into a percent structure and solve for part, whole, or percent.
- Use proportions or equations to solve multistep percent problems (discount → tax; markup → coupon; commission + bonus).
- Compute percent increase/decrease and interpret results in context.
- Apply mental math with benchmark percents for quick estimates and reasonableness checks.
- Explain and document solution paths with units and clear statements.
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 7
- 7.RP.3: Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems (simple interest; tax; markups and markdowns; gratuities and commissions; fees; percent increase and decrease; percent error).
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can identify part, whole, and percent and find the missing one.
- I can solve multistep percent problems and keep units straight.
- I can tell if a situation shows percent increase or decrease and say how much.
- I can use 10%, 5%, 1% (and others) to estimate and check my answers.
- I can explain my steps and give a clear final statement (with units).