Understanding Percentages

Are your students in the beginning stages of understanding the concept of percentages? Your students may be learning that a percentage is essentially a fraction where the denominator is 100. As an example, if 75 out of 100 stickers were blue, the percentage of blue stickers would be 75%. Students often represent percentages by coloring in a 10 x 10 grid when learning about this concept.

Teach Starter has developed a set of 24 task cards where students will determine the percentage in a written scenario or table and shade in the grid to model it. This set of task cards can be used for an introduction to percentages, as the total number of items represented on each card is 100.

Through this activity, students will show they can model a percentage on a 10×10 grid.

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

Consider allowing students to model percentages with base-ten blocks for students who need additional support. Additionally, remind students that percentages are essentially fractions, so a fractional reminder could be helpful as well.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

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

🛴 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 color PDF, black and white 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:  

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