Fishtank Learning

7th Grade Math
Unit 5: Percent and Scaling
Lesson 15

Objective

Use scales in maps to find actual distances between locations.

Anchor Problems - Problem 1

The images below are maps with different scales. What do you notice? What do you wonder?

Guiding Questions

Have you noticed these scales on maps you’ve seen before?
How are these maps different? How are they the same?
Why is looking at the scale of a map important?
What would happen to the scales if you were to zoom in or out of the area?
How would you use these scales to determine actual distances in the maps?

Notes

Use this Anchor Problem to activate students’ prior knowledge and experience working with map scales. Give rulers to students and ask them how they would use the tool with the map scale to find actual distances (MP.5).

Anchor Problems - Problem 2

The map below shows Boston Common and Boston Public Garden. Perla walked around the outside perimeter of the Common and the Public Garden. About how far did she walk?

Guiding Questions

What is your strategy for determining the distance that Perla walked?
What tools do you need to solve this problem?
What is the scale in the map? In your image, what length represents 500 feet?
What is the length of the perimeter of the park in the image?
How will you determine the actual distance from this?
If Perla walked at an average pace of 1 mile in 15 minutes, how long did it take for her to finish her walk around the park?

Notes

Students will need to use rulers to determine the corresponding measure for 500 feet in the scale. They may also use rulers to find the perimeter in the map. Some students may also ask to use string or some other flexible measuring tool (such as Wikki Stix) because of the curved lengths around the Boston Common (MP.5). Depending on how the image is printed, students may want to use centimeters or inches.
Extension activities could involve students printing out maps of places of interest to them and finding distances. For example, a student could print a map of her neighborhood and use the scale on the map to find the distance to the nearest park, the nearest store, or to their school, etc.

Anchor Problems - Problem 3

On the map below, $${{1\over4}}$$ inch represents one mile. Candler, Canton, and Oteen are three cities on the map.

a. If the distance between the real towns of Candler and Canton is 9 miles, how far apart are Candler and Canton on the map?

b. If Candler and Oteen are $${3 {1\over2}}$$ inches apart on the map, what is the actual distance between Candler and Oteen in miles?

Problem Set

View Problem Set

Target Task

The image below is a map of the park around Cruz Playground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Use a ruler and the scale provided to find the actual distance around the park.