Take two or three hands-up answers, not open call-outs. You are only fishing for the first step — most pupils will jump to the whole answer, so redirect: what do you have to know before you can share anything?

Listen for someone naming the total number of parts (9) — that is the doorway into the whole lesson. Don't solve the puzzle here; the sharing idea returns straight away in the next step.

Sharing first: split 36 in ratio 4:5. Add the parts before sharing, 4 + 5 = 9, so the bar cuts into 9 equal pieces. Ask what is one part worth before revealing one part is 4; shares are 16 and 20.

Unitary next: 5 tickets cost €17.50. Point out the bars are five equal single-ticket units, not a ratio split — the single unit is the pivot. Point at one unit and ask what is one ticket worth before revealing it: divide by five, one ticket is €3.50, then multiply up, eight tickets is €28.

Finish by asking the class to name the method each needs: the cookie hook is sharing, the ticket one is unitary. That contrast is the point.

Talk this one through together — pupils take turns at the board and the class agrees or corrects out loud.

This is a mixed problem on purpose: the first step is scaling (× 3 because 9 is three times 3, giving 15 strawberries), and the second step is sharing (the 15 strawberries split 2:3 → 5 parts, one part is 3 strawberries, so the shares are 6 and 9 — both whole). Make it clear the 15 shared in step 2 is exactly the 15 worked out in step 1, nothing new. Set the ratio bars to share the 15 as 2:3 and read the two shares straight from the bars.

Name the method before each step — that naming is the skill being practised.

Watch for the pupil who scales only the strawberries and forgets the other ingredients would scale too; head it off by asking what else in the recipe changes?

Practice round. Model clue 1 fully with the class, then pupils take turns at the board for clues 2 to 5. Keep board work brisk. Before each clue, ask which method it needs.

Clue 1 demonstration (sharing) → €15. Parts: 5 + 7 = 12. One part = 36 ÷ 12 = 3. Ana = 5 × 3 = €15. Start the visible chain on the board now.

Clue 2 (unitary) → 30 buns. One bun = 2.50 ÷ 5 = €0.50. Buns = 15 ÷ 0.50 = 30.

Clue 3 (scaling) → 45 buns. 9 is ×1.5 of 6 (or ÷6 ×9). 30 × 1.5 = 45. Slip to watch: pupils who add 3 people and only add 3 buns.

Clue 4 (sharing) → 18 buns. Parts 2 + 3 = 5. One part = 45 ÷ 5 = 9. Girls = 2 × 9 = 18.

Clue 5 (scaling) → 24 guests. Scale factor: 18 ÷ 6 = 3. Then multiply up the guests: 8 × 3 = 24. Name the method before anyone calculates.

Running chain to keep visible: €15 → 30 buns → 45 buns → 18 buns → 24 guests. Every number comes from the clue before it.