Fundamental Counting Principle Lesson Plan

Name: Rachel Potopa

Cooperating Teacher: Mrs. Lucci
Date: February 17, 2015
Time: 9:35-10:25
Subject/Class/Period: Algebra II, Period 1

OBJECTIVES:
The students will be able to figure out the possible combination of a set of items
occurring by referring to their notes for some guidance.
The students will able to understand the Fundamental Counting Principle.

COMMORE CORE STANDARD: Using Probability to Make Decisions (HSSMD.B.6)

Use probability to evaluate outcomes of decisions
-use probabilities to make fair decisions

MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES:
Go over tree diagrams, which is a topic they have already learned before and are
familiar with, showing them a few examples while having them participate in
figuring the problems out. Use this as a leeway into the fundamental counting
principle which goes off of tree diagrams. Examples used during class will be
examples that students will be able to relate to so they may be more interested in
the lesson.

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Smart board, power point, white board, marker, paper, pencil, calculator

PROCEDURE FOR THE LESSON:

-students enter classroom and take seat as they prepare for the lesson of the day
-review tree diagrams with the students as a leeway into the lesson doing a few
examples (5 minutes)
-go over the definition of fundamental counting principle taking it apart to better
explain it (5 minutes)
-Begin to go over about four different kinds of examples with the students (10
minutes)

-have students get up and do class activity involving the counting principle
explaining what is actually done when we use the counting principle
-hand out worksheet to the students and have them work quietly on them during
class (15 minutes)
-go over worksheet problems with the class (10 minutes)
-give final problem at the end of class to collect and use as assessment for the
lesson (5 minutes)

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE:
Tree diagram, Fundamental counting principle, multiplying

ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Have the students try and work through examples on their own that I have on the
power point and after a few minutes going through the problems together. Also a
worksheet will be given to assess how they are understanding the lesson while
being able to reference their notes to complete it. Finally a last problem will be
given where they arent allowed to refer to their notes. This last problem will be
turned in so that I can see how much everyone has taken from the lesson.

EVALUATION OF FIELD EXPERIENCE STUDENTS PERFORMANCE:

The lesson went very well over all and I was pleased with it. My cooperating
teacher warned me that her first period class could be very quiet and hard to get to
participate which I found to be true. It was a little harder trying to get students to
participate in the examples which made it hard for me to assess how they were
doing and if they were all understanding the material. I had an activity where the
students were able to get up and move around a little while I tried to explain to
them the idea of the fundamental counting principle. This seemed to help them
wake up a little more and help me to get them to actually participate in the lesson.
Besides that I think the lesson was good and after my assessment of the students
they all seemed to understand and learned from it. Next time, I think I will try and
engage the students more in the lesson and try and spend less time just lecturing at
the front of the class because I can understand it might get boring for them. Overall
though, the lesson was a success and I would work with this lesson again.