Probability Lesson Plan: Context
Probability Lesson Plan: Context
1
STEM Collaborative Cataloging Project
Hook and Hold:
As a class read the book That’s A Possiblility! By Bruce Goldstone. This is a longer book filled
with a lot of information. The teacher may want to pick out sections that pertain to the
objectives (pages 2-17). Ask probing questions to check for students’ understanding of
probability.
If the teacher doesn’t have access to the book use this Probability song on YouTube at the
following safe YouTube link: http://safeYouTube.net/w/YQ2
Make a list of things that are impossible, unlikely, even chance, likely, and certain. Attached is
a probability scale that can help guide students when talking about vocabulary words. Discuss
the fraction, decimal and percentage on the scale.
Materials:
Probability Kit
Shape Cube
Color Cube
Recording Sheet (Provided)
Math in a Nutshell Student Activity Guide pages 6-9
Math in a Nutshell Teacher’s Guide pages 4 and 5
Procedures:
1. Pair up students.
2. Students will find out all the different outcomes using the shape cube and color cube. The first
one on the recording sheet is done. The rest need to be finished by students.
3. To find out who goes first students will roll the shape cube. The first person to roll a square
starts the game.
4. Object of the game is to try and roll different pairs and stop before you get a repeat.
a. Roll the 2 cubes and record the color and shape of the pair you roll.
b. Say whether you will roll again or end your turn. If you roll again, record the pair you get.
If you roll a pair that you have already rolled during this turn, your turn ends and you get
zero points for the turn. You do not lose points that you earned during earlier turns. If you
choose to end your turn, count the number of different pairs you rolled during this turn.
Record this as your score on the score sheet.
c. When your turn ends, the player to your left takes a turn.
d. Keep taking turns until 1 player earns at least 10 points and wins the round.
e. Any players who had fewer turns than the winner make take one last turn. If they also
reach 10 or more, they tie the round with the winner.
f. The player who wins 3 rounds first wins the game.
5. When you are done playing come together as a group and discuss the risk and chances they
took with the game. Discuss if parts of the game were impossible, unlikely, even chance,
likely, and certain.
6. Ask the students if they would play the game differently or if they took different chances or
risk depending on the probability of the outcomes. This would be a great time to probe and
prompt students on their knowledge of objectives. Also have them look at reflect on their
recording sheet.
Summary: You can play a Kahoot pertaining to the objectives of probability, impossible, unlikely, even
chance, likely and certain. Here is the direct link to the Kahoot: https://goo.gl/7hpkkX
2
STEM Collaborative Cataloging Project
Or a QR code:
Here is a QR code/shorten URL for students to access the Kahoo.it page for them to enter the pin:
https://goo.gl/aaVTJL
Students will each need an iPad or Chromebook. If your school doesn’t have access to this than you
can use your activeboard to project it and you can answer the questions whole group.
Reflection (InTASC 9)
Reflect On:
Preparation
Planning
Teaching
Student Engagement and Participation
Evidence of Student Learning
Standards
Council of Chief School Officers. (2011, April) Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC)
model core teaching standards: a resource for state dialogue. Washington DC. Retrieved from
http://www.ccsso.org/documents/2011/intasc_model_core_teaching_standards_2011.pdf
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. (2011) North Dakota English language arts & literacy content
standards. Bismarck, ND. Retrieved from https://www.nd.gov/dpi/uploads/87/ELA_JUN0811.pdf
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. (2011) North Dakota English mathematics content standards.
Bismarck, ND. Retrieved from https://www.nd.gov/dpi/uploads/87/math.pdf
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. [SP-02-15-0044-15]