Lesson 1

The purpose of this warm-up is for students to use their intuition to think about the upcoming unit on probability. In particular, students guess what type of fish might be caught after knowing the results of the previous 10 fish caught. Although no answer can be given with absolute certainty, the results being heavily skewed towards one type of fish should lead students to the idea that it is more likely to be the most commonly caught fish will be caught again.

It may be helpful to explain that there are many types of fish that are caught while fishing for fun or sport. The two types listed in this warm-up, bluegill and yellow perch, are typically found in lakes and caught with the same type of bait. Both of these types of fish are suitable for eating after being caught or release back into the water.

The purpose of the discussion is to show students that no single answer can be certain for this problem, but previous results can help inform the likelihood of future outcomes.

Poll the class regarding the type of fish they think will be caught next. Begin by asking for students who think the next fish caught will be a bluegill followed by students who think the next fish caught will be a yellow perch followed by students who think that another type of fish will be caught (or that they will not catch another fish). Display the results from the poll for all to see. Following the poll, ask at least one student representing each group with more than 1 vote for their reasoning. Tell students that we cannot know for certain what the next type of fish will be, but based on the results we have available, it is most likely that a bluegill will be caught next.

Following the concept developed in the warm-up, students will continue to use the idea that outcomes from previous experiments can help inform the likelihood of an outcome when the experiment is repeated. In this activity, students play a game while collecting data. Bags of colored blocks are set up with different probabilities to win and students use random chance to collect points when the color of the block they choose matches the color written on the bag. In the discussion, students will use the data they have collected in three rounds of the game to make a decision about which bag might be most likely to produce a winning block. As an opening activity, this is meant to motivate students into thinking about likelihood of events. As such, it is not important to resolve the questions in the discussion into perfect agreement.

Students are arranged in groups of 4 and given one of 3 different bags labeled with colors. Create enough bags so that each group will have a turn with each of the different color bags after three rounds. 

Arrange students in groups of 4. Explain to students how to play the game:

• There will be 3 rounds of the game. Their group will get a different bag of blocks for each round.
• They are not allowed to look into the bag or take more than one block out of the bag at a time.
• During a round, each person in the group gets 4 turns to take a block out of the bag.
• If the block matches the color that is written on the outside of the bag, the person scores (1 point during round 1, 2 points during round 2, and 3 points during round 3). When the block is any other color, they do not earn any points.
• They put the block back in the bag, shake the bag to mix up the blocks, and pass the bag to the next person in between each turn.
• At the end of a round, they record everyone's points from that round and wait for a new bag of blocks.

Distribute bags of blocks. Each group gets one of these bags:

• A bag labeled "Green" that contains 9 green blocks and 3 of another color.
• A bag labeled "Blue" that contains 8 blue blocks and 8 of another color.
• A bag labeled "Red" that contains 4 red blocks and 10 of another color.

Some groups may choose a bag for the bonus round based on the number of points they got in the earlier rounds. Since points are equal in the bonus round, help them see that the blocks picked out is a more important thing to consider than the points for the round.

Tell students that there is a bonus, fourth round. In this round, a block that matches the color on the bag is worth 25 points. Each person will only have one chance to draw a bonus block. In this round, each group will get to choose which bag they would like to draw from. At least 3 people in the group must agree on the bag they will use.

Give students 5 minutes of small-group discussion to agree on which bag the group will use. Tell students that, after the bonus round, they will be asked to explain their reasoning for choosing the bag. It is ok for more than one group to select the same color bag. Identify groups that use the results from the previous rounds to determine which bag will be more likely to draw a winning block.

Allow each group to use the bag they have selected to play the bonus round and total their points.

After all students have played the bonus round, select groups to share their reasoning for choosing which bag to use. Select previously identified students to share their reasoning as well.

Ask students, "Was one bag more likely to give you a winning cube than the others? Explain your reasoning."

Open one of each color bag to reveal the contents. Ask students, "Based on what you see now, does this change your answer? Explain your reasoning."

The green bag should provide the best chance to win points, but it is not essential for the class to come to this understanding at this point.