Aligned Resources

NCTM
Grades 3-5
Data Analysis and Probability
Understand and apply basic concepts of probability

Lessons  •  Activities  •  Show All

Lessons (4)

Introduces students to probability simulation, allowing them to explore computer modeling while learning about probability.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Modeling, Probability

Related Topics: agent modeling, chaos, data, decimals, events, experimental probability, fractions, mean, outcomes, percents, probability, probability simulation, simulation, theoretical probability, variance

Students use probability to determine how likely it is for each tree in a small simulated forest to catch on fire.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability

Related Topics: agent modeling, chaos, decimals, estimation, events, experimental probability, outcomes, percents, probability, probability simulation, simulation, statistics, theoretical probability, variable

Students learn about probability by predicting the outcome of planned experiments and playing racing games.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability

Related Topics: data, events, experimental probability, fair, fractions, outcomes, percents, probability, probability simulation, theoretical probability, trials

Students learn about how probability can be represented using geometry.

Audiences: Grades 3-5

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Geometry, Probability

Related Topics: angles, circle graph, circles, counting, decimals, estimation, events, experimental probability, fair, fractions, geometric probability, geometry, outcomes, percents, probability, probability simulation, random number, spinner, statistics, theoretical probability

Activities (6)

Create a game spinner with variable sized sectors to look at experimental and theoretical probabilities. Parameters: Sizes of sectors, number of sectors, number of trials.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: angles, circle graph, circles, counting, decimals, events, experimental probability, fair, geometric probability, outcomes, percentages, percents, pie chart, probability simulation, simulation, spinner, statistics, theoretical probability

Simulation of a coin toss allowing the user to input the number of flips. Toss results can be viewed as a list of individual outcomes, ratios, or table.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: counting, events, experimental probability, fair, flips, outcomes, percentages, probability simulation, proportion, theoretical probability, theoretical value

Experiment with probability using a fixed size section spinner, a variable section spinner, two regular 6-sided dice or customized dice.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: circles, events, experimental probability, fair, fractions, geometric probability, outcomes, percentages, probability simulation, random number, simulation, spinner, statistics, theoretical probability, theoretical value, trials

Run a simulation of how a fire will spread through a stand of trees, learning about probability and chaos. Parameters: Probability that a tree catches fire if its neighbor is on fire.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Modeling, Probability

Related Topics: agent modeling, chaos, decimals, events, experimental probability, outcomes, percentages, percents, proportion, simulation, squares, theoretical probability, variance

Learn about sampling with and without replacement by randomly drawing marbles from a bag. Parameters: Number and color of marbles in the bag, replacement rule.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability

Related Topics: conditional probability, events, experimental probability, outcomes, percentages, probability simulation, probability with replacement, probability without replacement, random number, simulation, statistics, theoretical probability, trials

Simulate a game where two players each roll a die, and the lucky player moves one step to the finish. Parameters: what rolls win and how many steps to the finish line.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability

Related Topics: circle graph, events, experimental probability, fair, geometric probability, percents, pie chart, probability, probability simulation, random number, theoretical probability, trials