National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Game of SKUNK
Do I stand or do I sit? The class plays a dice game where they must decide to either continue to stand and play or sit down and keep their points. After the game, groups discuss individuals' strategies and see connections to the...
American Statistical Association
Exploring Geometric Probabilities with Buffon’s Coin Problem
Scholars create and perform experiments attempting to answer Buffon's Coin problem. They discover the relationships between geometry and probability, empirical and theoretical probabilities, and area of a circle and square.
Mathalicious
Three Shots
To foul or not to foul, that is the basketball question. High schoolers look at the probability that fouling out a player and allowing free throws yields a better outcome than allowing the original shot. The resource provides a teacher's...
TED-Ed
How Many Ways Can You Arrange a Deck of Cards?
Entertain and grab your learners' attention with a short video clip that engagingly teaches the concept of a permutation and how a factorial is a wonderful shortcut for theoretical probability calculations.
Curated OER
Logic and Problem Solving: Math Hunt
In these math lesson plans, students discuss how math problems are written to reflect real-world situations. They complete an online Math Hunt using specific web tools, and work individually to create their own Math Hunts. Additionally,...
Shodor Education Foundation
Playing with Probability
Review basic probability concepts with your class using different-colored marbles in a bag. Then pair up learners and have them play a cool online interactive game in which they race miniature cars using the roll of a die or two. The...
Curated OER
Mathematical Modeling
Study various types of mathematical models in this math lesson plan. Learners calculate the slope to determine the risk in a situation described. They respond to a number of questions and analyze their statistical data. Then, they...
American Institutes for Research
Data and Probability: Marshmallow Madness
Upper grade and middle schoolers make predictions, collect data, and interpret the data as it relates to the concept of probability. They work with a partner tossing marshmallows and recording if they land on their side or on their...
Curated OER
Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete Math
Choose to supplement your probability unit with this resource and you won't be disappointed with the outcome. Teach young mathematicians to organize information using tree diagrams and lists in order to determine the possible outcomes of...
Curated OER
Unexpected Answers
Students explore the concept of fairness. In this fairness lesson, students play four probability games. Students determine who has the best chance of winning each of the four games. Students discuss which games gave an unfair advantage.
American Statistical Association
A Sweet Task
Candy is always an effective motivator! A fun math activity uses M&M's and Skittles to explore two-way frequency tables and conditional probability. The candy can serve a dual purpose as manipulatives and experimental data.
Curated OER
M&M Graphing and Probability
Students sort, classify, and graph M & M's. They create pictographs and bar graphs with the colors and numbers in each bag of M & M's. They calculate the ratio and probability based on class results.
Curated OER
Probability
Second graders experiment with probability. In this probability lesson, 2nd graders pick colored beans from a bag to find the chance of getting different colors. They make fair and unfair spinners and record the data after spinning them.
Curated OER
High or Low- Probability
Students use playing cards to examine probability. In this probability lesson, students work in groups with a deck of cards and predict if the next card they lay down will be high or low. Students fill out a graphic organizer with their...
Curated OER
Probability Using M&M's
Students estimate and then count the number of each color of M&M's in their bag. In this mathematics lesson, students find the experimental probability of selecting each color from the bag. Students create pictographs and bar graphs...
Curated OER
Conditional Probability and Probability of Simultaneous Events
Students explore the concept of conditional probability and probability of simultaneous events. In this conditional probability and probability of simultaneous events lesson, students roll dice or use and applet to roll dice to determine...
Curated OER
Simple Probability
Students explore simple probability. Each student spins a spinner and records the result as they enter the room. The recorded results are used to calculate experimental probabilities. After the teacher explains how to calculate...
Curated OER
M&M Probability
Students apply the scientific method in order to determine the probability of specific colors in a bag of M&M's. They determine the definition of probability and how it can be used. They make a hypothesis and conduct an experiment to...
Curated OER
Experimental Probability
While just a simple activity, this activity on experimental probability could provide a way to connect this concept to real life. Learners begin by participating in a probability activity using a coin, and then move on to create their...
Curated OER
Chances Are......You're Right
Young mathematicians study probability. In this math lesson, learners calculate odds, and convert those into percentages of probability. Fractions are also used, making this lesson quite rich in some of the more difficult conversions...
Shodor Education Foundation
From Probability to Combinatorics and Number Theory
What middle schooler does not enjoy an occasional online game? In this lesson play, you will find embedded links to an online probability game, and informative pages about how division is used in probability, the concept of tree models,...
Curated OER
Finding Probability
Students demonstrate how to find the probability of events. In this probability lesson, students use colored tiles in a paper bag and randomly select one at a time to record the probability.
Curated OER
Math in the Wetlands Field Trip
Get your class out in the environment for hands on math activities. In this wetlands lesson, learners transplant native plants, calculate how much soil is needed, and perform math activities based on this experience. They then make...
Curated OER
Probability
Here is a classic activity used to introduce your class to the concept of probability and data collection. They will roll one die 30 times, then record and discuss the results. Great introduction, but too shallow to be considered a...