Investigation One: Evaluating Games of Chance

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

Create a game spinner with one to twelve sectors in order to look at experimental and theoretical probabilities. Parameters: 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, events, experimental probability, fair, geometric probability, outcomes, percents, pie chart, probability, probability simulation, spinner, theoretical probability, theoretical value, trials

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

Experiment with a simple ecosystem consisting of grass, rabbits, and wolves, learning about probabilities, chaos, and simulation.

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

Primary Subjects: Calculus, Graphs, Modeling, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: agent modeling, calculus, chaos, graph, iteration, pattern, predator-prey, probability simulation, random number, simulation, statistics