Lesson 5

In this lesson students compare the results from running actual trials of an experiment to the expected, calculated probabilities. They also use their data to see that additional trials usually produce more accurate results as minor differences even out after many trials.

In the first activity, students spin four different spinners to see that the outcomes in a sample space may not be equally likely, and they examine the spinners to construct arguments (MP3) about why some outcomes are more likely than others. In the next activity, students draw blocks out of a bag repeatedly and use the relative frequency to estimate the probability of getting a green block (MP8). This activity differs from the activity in the previous lesson where students were rolling a number cube repeatedly because in this lesson the students do not know the probability of getting a green block before they start the experiment.

In future lessons students will be asked to design and use simulations. Each lesson leading up to that helps prepare students by giving them hands-on experience with different types of chance experiments they could choose to use in their simulations. In this lesson students work with spinners and drawing blocks out of a bag.

Provide 1 set of 4 spinners cut from the Making My Head Spin blackline master for every 4 students. Each student will need a pencil and paper clip to use with the spinners.  

For the How Much Green activity, prepare a paper bag containing 5 snap cubes (3 green and 2 of another matching color) for every 3–4 students.