Test Your Luck

Suggested Activity Duration: 15-20 min.

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES
General Learning Outcomes:
Probability
o GLO: Use experimental or theoretical probabilities to represent and solve problems
involving uncertainty (Statistics & Probability Chance & Uncertainty)
Specific Learning Outcomes:
Probability
o SLO: SP4. Express probabilities as ratios, fractions and percents.
o SLO: SP5. Identify the sample space (where the combined sample space has 36 or fewer
elements) for a probability experiment involving two independent events.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
Review sample space with two independent events, and apply probability to experiments
involving two independent events using the sample space
MATERIALS AND SETUP
Dice
Scrabble tiles
Pennies
PROCEDURE
1. Test Your Luck Game (20 min.)
The students all stand up
I say something like, come up to the front if you think I will flip heads and roll a number
bigger than 2
Students can either stay at their desks or come up to the front
I will then do the experiment
If what I said happens, the students at the front are safe and the other students are out, but if
not, the students at the front are out and the other students are safe
We will review the probability after this and then do it again
o I will have students help me figure out the probability
o I will stick with one combination of independent events for a while
o I will try different combinations and go through different examples
REFLECTION
The concept of probability with sample space seemed to make sense to the students, but the game
itself was a little bit complex. It didnt run as smoothly as I had hoped it would. It was a lot of guess
work on the side of the students, and when I tried to discuss the probabilities, they had a hard time
listening. They were excited about the fact that we were playing a game. I think that the probability
game that I tried to play today had too many levels of complexity. In addition, when the students
were out, they just sat and talked to their friends. On Monday, I will try to play this game again, but I
will expect students to write what I write on the board, and I will stick with the same category for
longer.