The first of two workshops I've created for children in my class about probability. This is used as a rotation activity after I have done some teaching on it first.

1. Probability: The Basics Workshop 1

3. Write the title – Probability Workshop 1 in your mathematics book

5. What are we going to do? Walk through a probability experiment Be introduced to the language of probability Record probability Conduct your own probability experiment

6. What is probability? We use these words to explain how probable something is: Likely Unlikely Impossible Certain Even Chance Probability is the study of how likely something is to happen. We use probability in lots of different places. If we were to place the words above on a the line below where would they go? Work with a buddy to figure it out. Share your answer with your group, explain why and where you put each word.

7. The Language These words make up the probability scale. The scale goes from impossible to certain. Where on the probability scale would you put: The chance that you are going to eat dirt for lunch? Write your answer in your mathematics book before you go onto the next slide

9. Throwing a 2 when you roll a dice

10. School will end at 3pm today

11. You will write the correct answer in your mathematics book

12. Your teacher will use a blue whiteboard marker today

13. You will watch television this afternoon

15. Checking Probability We can test probability using a probability experiment. We are going to use a bag of cubes to test probability today. This is our bag. Here is what is in our bag 1 Blue Cube 1 Green Cube

16. Working Out Probability We want to know what the probability is that a green cube will be pulled out of the bag when the monster pulls a cube out. There are two cubes in the bag. We know that we can pull out a blue or a green cube. There for there is an even chance (50%) that we will pull out a green cube. Do you know what the probability will be for a blue cube? See if you can work it out with your buddy. Share your ideas with your group

17. Working Out Probability We want to know what the probability is that a blue cube will be pulled out of the bag when the monster pulls a cube out. That’s right there are two cubes in the bag. We know that we can pull out a blue or a green cube. There fore there is an even chance (50%) that we will pull out a blue cube. How would we test that? Do you think that there is going to be the same number of blue and green cubes pulled out of the bag when we do our experiment?

18. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

19. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

20. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

21. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

22. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

23. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

24. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

25. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

26. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

27. Testing Probability Lets experiment. We are going to pull out a cube from the bag, record what colour it is then put it back into the bag. Then we’ll do it again. We’re going to have 10 tries at it.

28. Testing Probability Now we’ve completed our experiment we can have a look at the results. Work with a buddy to answer the questions in your mathematics book. How many blue blocks did we pull out? How many green blocks did we pull out? What was the probability that we would pull out a blue block? What was the probability that we would pull out a green block? Did our probability match with our experiment results?

29. Testing Probability Here are the answers to the questions… 4 6 Even Chance or 50% Even Chance or 50% No we pulled out 40% Blue and 60% green instead of 50% of each.

30. Testing Probability So our probability didn’t match our test results. Why do you think that happened? Try and explain it with a buddy. Share your answers with your mathematics group before going to the next slide.

31. Testing Probability Remember probability is the study of how likely something is to happen. We can predict what could happen and what is more or less likely to happen but in reality any of the events could happen unless they are impossible. Are you ready to try your own experiment?

32. Your Own Experiment Lets have some fun with coins. Get a coin from your teacher or use a counter with a different symbol on each side. Answer these questions with a buddy first: What is the probability of getting a head when you flip a coin? What is the probability of getting a tale when you flip a coin? Okay now lets test it out Draw the table into your mathematics book Have 30 tries at flipping a coin record the result of each flip

33. Your Own Experiment Now that you’ve done your experiment… Compare the results from everyone in the group. Where your results all the same? Why? Why not? That’s right, we can use probability to predict what could happen but in reality the events we’re studying could all happen unless they are impossible.

36. Understand and use some of the basic language of probability

37. Create and undertake probability experiments

38. Display probability for events in an appropriate way

40. Walk through a probability experiment

41. Be introduced to the language of probability

42. Record probability