Computer- Based Lesson Plans:  Probability & Graphs    by Karen Culver

Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom

Title:    Probability & Graphs                

Learner Level: Adult   

Pre-Instruction: Discuss probability and how it can be graphed.

Duration: 1 - 2 hours    

Materials: Large packages of individually wrapped Skittles (enough for one individually wrapped package for each student) and an extra large package, Napkin, notebook paper, marker board and markers, Poster boards and writing utensils of their choice: pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, or crayons.

Objectives: Students will gain an understanding of probability through real life activity. 

Procedure:

Introduce the concepts of probability through real life thinking process.  Purchase fun packs of Skittles then as a group discuss how many individual packages they think are inside.  Some will know to read the label others will just guess.  Teach them to read the label and use estimation.  Then open and give each student an individually wrapped package of Skittles.  The object now is to guess the probability of total skittles in your package.  I make a chart on the marker board w/each students name on the left side and total at the top. I document each guess as they share.  Then I put a column for True total and leave it blank until all have opened and counted later in activity.

Create a table on the board to list all the colors possible inside the Skittles package.

Now have each student write down how many of each color they think is in their package.  After all have written guesses down then collect the papers and as the students open and separate by color to count, I will put their guesses on the board.  I will have a blank column to the right of each color for total of each once the student has them counted. Put the totals beside the guesses.

Now discuss how they thought by the colors what the odds would be in the package. Use the actual number of skittles to show relationship of one person to another and to the entire package.

Evaluation:

Using the data on the marker board, have students create a chart of their choice to reflect the probability of their package of skittles. Can be any type of graph they want to create such as line graphs to show guess vs real, bar graph, scatter plot. Have each student discuss their graph and why they choose to reflect the data on that particular type of graph. The graphs can be displayed in classroom for future reference.