#MTBoSBLaugust - Probability With Spinners

In February the second grade team taught a very short unit on probability. As part of that unit we completed a series of probability experiments with a set of spinners featuring Arctic animals (moose, walrus, and fox).

The overarching standard for the unit was:

• 2.14 The student will use data from probability experiments to predict outcomes when the experiment is repeated. 

In meeting this standard, students were encouraged to use problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, connections, and representations to:

• Conduct probability experiments using multi colored spinners, colored tiles, or number cubes and use the data from the experiments to predict outcomes if the experiment is repeated.
• Record the results of probability experiments, using tables, charts, and tally marks.
• Interpret the results of probability experiments.
• Predict which of two events is more or less likely to occur if an experiment is repeated.

In conducting these probability experiments, students: 

• played with fair and unfair spinners
• tallied and recorded the results of their spins
• graphed the results of their experiments 
• determined what makes a spinner fair or unfair

 Here's what the activity pages and spinners look like.

Students enjoyed conducting the experiment with each spinner. We had good discussions that revolved around the ideas of experimental and theoretical probability, even if these terms are not introduced at this grade level. 

If you want to try this with your students, you can download a PDF copy.

That's it for day 7 of #MTBoSBlaugust. I hope you'll come back tomorrow to see what else I have to share.