The document provides instructions for a series of activities to teach students about probability. It includes directions to complete online tutorials and simulations, define key probability terms, solve sample probability problems, and create their own probability experiment. The learning objective is for students to demonstrate understanding of probability concepts like sample space, events, and experimental probability through interactive online exercises and problem-solving.

1. Jennefer Simmons
Grade Level:6th– 8th
Topic: Probability
Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate an
understanding of the concept of probability by solving
probability problems in various formats, providing
rationale for their methods, and by creating their own
exercises that deal with probability.
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1. First, visit http://dictionary.reference.com/ Enter the term “probability” in the search
box located at the top of the screen. Look at the definitions listed for the term. Click
over to the “Thesaurus” tab, located above the definitions.
a. From reading through the definitions and synonyms of “probability,” see if
you can provide a definition in your own words as to what you think it is:
_______________________________________________________________
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b. Next, tell me how you think “probability” might be applied to math, using
your previous experiences. (There is no right answer here; just give me your
best guess.) _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. To complete the next activity, you should visit the website
(http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/probability.html); be sure to read through the entire
page to get a better feeling for the concept of probability. Once you’ve read the page
in its entirety, answer the following questions.
a. What are the odds of rolling a 4 on a six-sided dice? ____________________
b. In your own words define the following.
i. Experiment: ______________________________________________
ii. Event: ___________________________________________________
iii. Sample Space: ____________________________________________
iv. Sample Point: _____________________________________________
c. Use your newly acquired vocabulary words to explain your answer to 2a.
Break down your reasoning to shed light on how you arrived at your answer:
_______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. Watch the video titled “Simple Probability at the URL below and answer the
questions that follow. http://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability/v/simple-
probability
a. The narrator uses the term “possible outcomes.” Of the vocabulary you have
learnt so far, which one is the most similar to this new idea? ______________
b. Using the example provided in the video, tell me what the probability of
picking a blue marble is. __________________________________________
4. When you visit the following
website: http://www.cut-the-
knot.org/probability.shtml
you will find a list of many probability problems
near the bottom of the page. Choose one of the
following problems to analyze. You do not need
to solve these problems yourself, but you should
summarize and explain the solution in your own
words.
a. Stick Broken Into Three
Pieces (Interactive Triangle
Problem):_______________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
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b. The Careless Mailing Clerk ________________________________________
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c. Three Pancakes (In this problem, 3 solutions are offered. Describe the one that
makes the most sense to you.) ______________________________________
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3. 5. For the next activity, you will complete one problem of each type found at the
following website:
http://www.pearsonschool.com/live/images/custom/envisionmath_ca/games/pond.html
This should make for a total of 6 kinds of problems that you will have to complete. As
you play the games, answer the following questions.
a. For the “describing chances” sets, explain how you know an event is
i. Impossible: ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
ii. Certain: _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
iii. More Likely: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________
iv. Less Likely: ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
v. Equally Likely: _________________________________________
______________________________________________________
b. For the “finding probabilities,” lay out the steps you took in determining the
answers. _______________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________
c. After the “showing probabilities” set, you should have some practice creating
a desired probability. In the space below, please represent the probability of
1/5 circles. You can use any other shapes you prefer to create your own
unique sample space.
6. Explore Probability Circus at http://www.hbschool.com/activity/probability_circus/
After completing a few exercises, explain what two things you need to know in order
to determine probability.
a. ______________________________________
b. ______________________________________

4. 7. At this URL,http://www.cyberbee.com/probability/graph3.htmlcomplete numbers 1-
4. The M&Ms will be provided to you. In order to simplify this problem, there is
space below to record the number of each color of M&M below. There is also a blank
circle, which you will use to create the circle graph for question # 4.
a. Record the number found in your bag. Convert into a percentage. (Hint: You
will need to know the total number of M&Ms in order to convert.)
i. Green: _______________________________________ = _______ %
ii. Blue:_________________________________________ = _______ %
iii. Red: _________________________________________ = _______ %
iv. Brown: _______________________________________ = _______ %
v. Yellow: ______________________________________ = _______ %
vi. Orange: ______________________________________ = _______ %
b. Transfer the information you have just recorded into the graph provided
below. Be sure to provide a key, so that those interpreting the graph will be
able to understand it.
KEY
8. Read the webpage found at: http://mste.illinois.edu/reese/birthday/After reading
through the information, enter the number of people in our class (25) in the textbox.
Press the “Calculate” button a few times and focus on the experimental probability.
Once you have gotten a feel for this, use the “Run 100 Trials” Button.
a. Record the experimental probability after
i. 1 trial: ______________________
ii. 2 trials: _____________________
iii. 100 trials:____________________
iv. 300 trials: ____________________
v. 500 trials: ____________________
b. Describe what happens the more trials you conduct: _____________________
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5. 9. For this next exercise, you will create your own probability experiment. Your
problem doesn’t have to be complicated, but you should demonstrate your knowledge
of the sample space, the sample point, and the difference between an event and an
experiment. At this URL, http://jmathpage.com/JIMSProbabilitypage.html you can
find spinners and dice to assist you in your task. Each simulation will guide you
through and allow for the creation of your own experiment. Record the details of your
experiment below:
a. Of the 27 available simulations, I used: _____________________________
b. The sample space was: ____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
c. The experimental probability was: ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
10. For your final activity, you will visit a webpage
(http://www.studyzone.org/mtestprep/math8/g/intro
probquiz.cfm) that contains a probability quiz. You
will not need to complete the entire quiz. Choose
one of the questions and solve it using any spare
space on the page. Then, explain why/how you
arrived at your answer:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
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6. Answer Key
1a. Answers will vary.
1b. Answers will vary.
2a. 1/6
2bi. An action where the result is uncertain.
2bii. The result of a single experiment.
2biii. All the possible outcomes of an experiment.
2biv. One possible outcome of an experiment.
2bv. Answer should include the terms: experiment, event, sample space, sample point. No one answer for
this question.
3a. Sample space.
3b. 1/8
4a. b. c. Answers will vary. Only one must be completed.
5ai. The outcome described is not contained within the set.
5aii. The outcome described is the only one contained within the set.
5aiii. The outcome described comprises the majority of the set.
5aiv. The outcome described comprises the minority of the set.
5av. The outcome described comprises half of the set.
5b. No two answers will be the same. However, answers should involve at least the student counting the
total possible outcomes as well as the desired outcome.
5c. Answers will vary. Image should be representative of 1/5 circles.
6.Sample space & sample point.
7ai. – vi. Answers will vary by M&M bag.
7b. Graphs will vary based on information in part a.
8a. Answers will vary.
8b. The general trend should be that experimental probability will not increase as much the more trials
you conduct. For example, probability between 1 trial and 100 is quite significant; between 100 and 200
is not as significant. However, answers will likely vary as many different observations can be made.
9a.- c. Answers will vary greatly. Students should address each question based on the simulation they
choose.
10.Answers will vary based on which question students choose to explore in detail.