Spinner Games to Teach Probability

Data Management and Probability 

Focuses on:

1. Collecting Data 

2. Data Relationships 

3. Probability 

Curriculum Expectations: 

- Grade 4: collecting and organizing discrete data; reading and displaying data using stem-and-leaf plots and double bar graphs; understanding median; comparing two related sets of data; predicting the frequency of an outcome; investigating how the number of repetitions of a probability experiment affects the conclusion drawn (p. 64). 

- Grade 5:collecting and organizing discrete and continuous data; displaying data using broken-line graphs; sampling data from a population; understanding mean; comparing two related sets of data; representing probability using fractions (p. 76).

- Grade 6: collecting and organizing discrete and continuous data; displaying data using continuous line graphs; selecting appropriate graphical representations; using continuous line graphs and mean to compare sets of data; finding theoretical probabilities; predicting the frequency of an outcome based on the theoretical probability (p. 86). 

- Grade 7: collecting and organizing categorical, discrete, and continuous data; displaying data in relative frequency tables and circle graphs; identifying bias in data; relating changes in data to changes in central tendency; making inferences based on data; investigating real-world applications of probability; determining the theoretical probability of two independent events (p. 97).

- Grade 8: collecting categorical, discrete, and continuous data; organizing data into intervals; displaying data using histograms and scatter plots; using measures of central tendency to compare sets of data; comparing two attributes using data management tools; comparing experimental and theoretical probabilities; calculating the probability of complementary events (p. 109). 

Teaching about Probability using Spinners

The video describes the probability of each of the cowboys taking road 3 or someplace else. Based on spinners that the cowboys are wearing determines which path they are probably, unlikely, certain or impossible to take. 

Activity: Probability Paths 

For the activity, students should create the spinners for each cowboy represented in the video. Have students spin each spinner 10 times to record the results of the cowboy taking path 3 or someplace else path. Have students discuss in partners what the probability would be for each of the cowboys to take path 3 or to take path someplace else. Get students to discuss in partners why they believe this.

Benefits of Activity 

- Engaging 

- Visual Representation of probability 

- Partners can help struggling students learn from their peers

Challenges of Activity 

- Students might struggle to understand how probability is used in everyday life

- Students might struggle to understand how even though when spinning you get the same number every time in the ten spins if there is another option on the spinner it does not mean that the probability is 100 percent 

References 

AM Crew. 3-D animated Math Probability Spinner Video. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/QpfMwA0z_1Y.