My Sustainable STEM Sideshow - Probability

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 5 to 8 Mathematics:

• list the possible outcomes of chance experiments involving equally likely outcomes and compare to those which are not equally likely (AC9M5P01)
• conduct repeated chance experiments and run simulations with an increasing number of trials using digital tools; compare observations with expected results and discuss the effect on variation of increasing the number of trials (AC9M6P02)
• conduct repeated chance experiments and run simulations with a large number of trials using digital tools; compare predictions about outcomes with observed results, explaining the differences (AC9M7P02)
• recognise that complementary events have a combined probability of one; use this relationship to calculate probabilities in applied contexts (AC9M8P01)

Syllabus outcomes: MA3-19SP

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Numeracy

Relevant parts of Year 6 and 8 achievement standards: 

By the end of Year 6, students compare observed and expected frequencies and they interpret and compare a variety of data displays including those displays for two categorical variables. Students add, subtract and multiply decimals and divide decimals and they describe probabilities using simple fractions, decimals and percentages.

By the end of Year 8, students represent the possible combinations of 2 events with tables and diagrams, and determine related probabilities to solve practical problems. They conduct experiments and simulations using digital tools to determine related probabilities of compound events.

Time required: 90 mins (two 45-50 min lessons)

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – Teacher needs to explain various mathematical concepts around probability and assist students to apply the outcomes and event frequencies in their own Sideshow Game to the mathematical conceptual framework around probability.

• calculators – per student (for calculating decimal probability ratios)
• dice (either digital and projected on a data projector or whiteboard, or large dice that the whole class can see)
• interactive whiteboard or data projector
• Student Worksheet for Lesson 2: Probability (one per student)
• students’ ‘Sustainable STEM Sideshow Game’ prototypes, from Lesson 1 of this Unit – set up ready to ‘test’ in a tabloid arrangement in the classroom or learning space
• whiteboard (or electronic whiteboard) with pens.

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• critical thinking
• problem solving.

This is an original Cool+ lesson.