Section 1: Experimental Probability

Students run a simulation of how a fire will spread through a stand of trees, learning about probability and chaos. Parameters: Forest density, wind direction, size of forest.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Modeling, Probability

Related Topics: agent modeling, chaos, conditional probability, experimental probability, iteration, percentages, percents, probability simulation, proportion, simulation, skewed distribution, variance

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

Experiment with the outcome distribution for a roll of two dice by simulating a dice throwing game. Parameters: Which player wins with which total rolled.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Probability

Related Topics: combinatorics, decimals, events, experimental probability, fair, fractions, outcomes, percentages, percents, probability simulation, proportion, random number, statistics, 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

Step through the generation of the Koch Snowflake -- a fractal made from deforming the sides of a triangle, and explore number patterns in sequences and geometric properties of fractals.

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

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Geometry, Number and Operations

Related Topics: decimals, fractals, geometric sequences, infinity, iteration, lines, pre-calculus, recursion, self-similarity, sequences

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

Choose one of three doors to experimentally determine the odds of winning the grand prize behind one of the doors, as in the TV program "Let's Make a Deal." Parameters: Staying or switching between the two remaining doors.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Probability

Related Topics: conditional probability, events, experimental probability, fair, monty hall, outcomes, percents, probability, probability simulation, random number, statistics, strategy, theoretical probability