6th Grade Percentage Problems

Are your students starting to explore the concept of a percentage? Perhaps they are working on relating how percentages and 10 x 10 grid models work hand-in-hand. When working with visual models to represent a percentage, students learn that the large square represents one whole, while the smaller, individual squares represent 1%. The small squares can be shaded in to represent a given percentage.

Teach Starter has created a set of 24 task cards you can use with your 6th-grade students when learning to identify percentages. After students understand this concept, they will be ready to move into writing percentages as fractions and decimals.  

Through this activity, students will demonstrate they can write a percentage given a visual model or situational scenario.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons.

In addition to individual student work time, use this set of task cards to enhance learning through guided math groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

For students who need additional support, students can use hands-on materials such as base-ten blocks to model each percentage. Additionally, invite students to reference previous lessons, posters, and anchor charts.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

If there are students who need a bit of a challenge, encourage them to write each percent as a fraction or a decimal.

🛴 Scoot Activity

Place the cards around the room in numerical order and give each student a recording sheet. Assign students or pairs to a starting point card. Give students time to review the card and record their answer in the corresponding space on their paper. Students will rotate to the next card when you say, “SCOOT!” Continue in this manner until students return to their starting point. 

👋 Exit Ticket 

Use these cards as a formative assessment after your lesson. Pick a random assortment of cards and project them on the board for the whole class to see. Students can record their answers on a sheet of paper, sticky note, or their notebook. 

Plan lessons for all ability levels with our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies! 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download. 

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

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This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a teacher in Colorado and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time: