ALEX Learning Activity

  

What's the Chance?

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Kimberly Dockery
System:Alabama Department of Education
School:Alabama Department of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2700
Title:
What's the Chance?
Digital Tool/Resource:
Illuminations Adjustable Spinner
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this lesson, students will use an online spinner to explore theoretical and experimental probabilities. Students will also make predictions and support their reasoning before completing a probability experiment. Then students will design a spinner where all the sections are not uniform. To be able to compare results, the only variable changed is the size of the sections. Students will express probability results in both percent and fraction forms. Finally, students will reflect on a simulation of a given event.

What's the Chance Activity Page

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Digital Literacy and Computer Science
DLIT (2018)
Grade: 7
27) Identify data needed to create a model or simulation of a given event.

Examples: When creating a random name generator, the program needs access to a list of possible names.

Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students will:
  • select a process or system and then determine the data needed to create a model or simulation of the process or system.
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • an event is comprised of a set of steps or processes that can be identified and then simulated.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • abstract the sequence of activities that make up an event.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • dissecting the parts of an event can aid in understanding of and the simulation of the event.
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 7
14. Define and develop a probability model, including models that may or may not be uniform, where uniform models assign equal probability to all outcomes and non-uniform models involve events that are not equally likely.

a. Collect and use data to predict probabilities of events.

b. Compare probabilities from a model to observed frequencies, explaining possible sources of discrepancy.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Develop uniform (all outcomes have the same probability) and non-uniform (outcomes with different probabilities) probability models and use them to find probabilities of simple events.
  • Explain possible sources of discrepancy if the agreement between the probability model and observed frequencies is not good.
  • Estimate the probability of an event happening in an experiment.
  • Compare the accuracy of estimated probabilities from different experiments to the actual probability.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Probability model
  • Uniform model
  • non-uniform model
  • observed frequencies
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the probability of any single event can be expressed using terminology like impossible, unlikely, likely, or certain or as a number between 0 and 1, inclusive, with numbers closer to 1 indicating greater likelihood.
  • A probability model is a visual display of the sample space and each corresponding probability
  • probability models can be used to find the probability of events.
  • A uniform probability model has equally likely probabilities.
  • Sample space and related probabilities should be used to determine an appropriate probability model for a random circumstance.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • make predictions before conducting probability experiments, run trials of the experiment, and refine their conjectures as they run additional trials.
  • Collect data on the chance process that produces an event.
  • Use a developed probability model to find probabilities of events.
  • Compare probabilities from a model to observed frequencies
  • Develop a probability model (which may not be uniform) by observing frequencies in data generated from a chance process.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • long-run frequencies tend to approximate theoretical probability.
  • predictions are reasonable estimates and not exact measures.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.7.14.1: Define probability of chance, probability of events, outcome, and probability of observed frequency.
M.7.14.2: Compare and contrast probability of chance and probability of observed frequency.
M.7.14.3: Display all outcomes in a graphic representation (probability model-tree diagram, organized list, table, etc.).
M.7.14.4: Demonstrate how to write the probability as a fraction, with likely outcomes as the numerator and possible outcomes as the denominator.
M.7.14.5: Recall how to simplify fractions to lowest terms.
M.7.14.6: Recognize equivalent fractions.
M.7.14.7: Recall how to create a table or graphic display of data.
M.7.14.8: Define probability of chance, outcome, and event.
M.7.14.9: List all possible outcomes using a graphic representation (probability model-tree diagram, organized list, table, etc.).
M.7.14.10: Using the model, count the frequency of the desired outcome.
M.7.14.11: Demonstrate how to write the probability as a fraction, with likely outcomes as the numerator and possible outcomes as the denominator.
M.7.14.12: Recall how to simplify fractions to lowest terms.
M.7.14.13: Recognize equivalent fractions.
M.7.14.14: Recall how to create a table or graphic display of data.
M.7.14.15: Analyze collected data to predict probability of events.
M.7.14.16: Define probability of observed frequency, outcome, discrepancy and event.
M.7.14.17: List all actual outcomes using a graphic representation (probability model-tree diagram, organized list, table, etc.).
M.7.14.18: Using the model, count the frequency of the actual outcome.
M.7.14.19: Demonstrate how to write the probability as a fraction, with likely outcomes as the numerator and possible outcomes as the denominator.
M.7.14.20: Recall how to simplify fractions in lowest terms.
M.7.14.21: Recognize equivalent fractions.
M.7.14.22: Recall how to create a table or graphic display of data.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Recall addition and subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the same whole.
  • Identify two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size or the same point on a number line.
  • Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3. Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
  • Generate equivalent fractions.
  • Recall how to read a graph or table.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.7.14 Describe the probability of events occurring as possible or impossible.


Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 7
Accelerated
30. Define and develop a probability model, including models that may or may not be uniform, where uniform models assign equal probability to all outcomes and non-uniform models involve events that are not equally likely.

a. Collect and use data to predict probabilities of events.

b. Compare probabilities from a model to observe frequencies, explaining possible sources of discrepancy. [Grade 7, 14]
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Develop uniform (all outcomes have the same probability) and non-uniform (outcomes with different probabilities) probability models and use them to find probabilities of simple events.
  • Explain possible sources of discrepancy if the agreement between the probability model and observed frequencies is not good.
  • Estimate the probability of an event happening in an experiment.
  • Compare the accuracy of estimated probabilities from different experiments to the actual probability.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Probability model
  • Uniform model
  • non-uniform model
  • observed frequencies
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the probability of any single event can be expressed using terminology like impossible, unlikely, likely, or certain or as a number between 0 and 1, inclusive, with numbers closer to 1 indicating greater likelihood.
  • A probability model is a visual display of the sample space and each corresponding probability.
  • probability models can be used to find the probability of events.
  • A uniform probability model has equally likely probabilities.
  • Sample space and related probabilities should be used to determine an appropriate probability model for a random circumstance.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • make predictions before conducting probability experiments, run trials of the experiment, and refine their conjectures as they run additional trials.
  • Collect data on the chance process that produces an event.
  • Use a developed probability model to find probabilities of events.
  • Compare probabilities from a model to observed frequencies
  • Develop a probability model (which may not be uniform) by observing frequencies in data generated from a chance process.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • long-run frequencies tend to approximate theoretical probability.
  • predictions are reasonable estimates and not exact measures.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Learning Objectives:

The student will use an online spinner to express experimental and theoretical probabilities in percent and fraction form.

The student will design spinner variations and predict possible outcomes.  

The student will create a simulation of a given event by creating a model using an online tool.

  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

Students will explore experimental and theoretical probabilities using the Illuminations adjustable spinner and record their results on the “What’s the Chance?” handout. In Part A of the activity, students are given direct instructions to explore experimental and theoretical probabilities properties using the adjustable spinner digital tool. All students should have the same answers. Part B of the activity allows students the opportunity to explore changing the size of the sections of the spinner. At this point, the teacher should conduct a Think-Pair-Share with the class. Ask the students how adjusting the size of the sections will change both the experimental and theoretical probabilities (Part B Question 2). Have the students compare their results with a partner and decide what they would like to share back with the class. Then students will complete the rest of Part B and record their results on their handout. A Think-Pair-Share could also be used with Part C where students are asked to compare their results from simulating the given event.

Assessment Strategies:

Students will complete an exit ticket explaining if their predictions were accurate from the data they collected.

Assess students understanding by reviewing the "What's the Chance?" handout.

Observe students as they use the Illuminations Adjustable Spinner digital tool.


Advanced Preparation:

Students need to understand the difference between experimental and theoretical probabilities.

Visit the website Adjustable Spinner to become familiar with how to use the spinner. 

Students will need online access to the Adjustable Spinner found on Illuminations Website.

Copy the “What’s the Chance” student response page.

Variation Tips (optional):

If you do not have access to the Adjustable Spinner on the Illuminations website, you could have the students create spinners to conduct the activity.

Notes or Recommendations (optional):

Students can work in groups or independently. 

As an extension, students could also use their results to design a graph.

  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: chance, experimental probability, fraction, outcome, percent, probability, simulation, Spinner, theoretical probability