Activity Overview
Students explore the basics in data analysis and probability.
Before the Activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print student activity sheets for each separate section: Spin Me Along pg 108-109, Tiles in a Bag pg 114, Number Cube Sums pg 118, Analyzing Number Cube Sums pg 121, Picturing Probabilities of Number Cube Sums pg 127, and An Average Lunch? pg 131.
During the Activity
Distribute the page to the class.
Follow the activity procedures:
Spin Me Along:
Explore probability and patterns in fractions, decimals, and percents by spinning three spinners and recording and analyzing the result
Tiles in a Bag:
Explore probability and patterns in fractions, decimals, and percents by drawing tiles out of a bag and recording and analyzing the results
Number Cube Sums:
Explore experimental probability and patterns in fractions, decimals, and percents by rolling two number cubes and recording and analyzing the sums that come up
Analyzing Number Cube Sums:
Extend the understanding of theoretical probability and patterns, using number cubes
Build awareness that a fraction and its decimal and percent representation on the calculator are close, but not necessarily equal
Picturing Probabilities of Number Cube Sums:
Use ideas of ratio and proportion to investigate various ways to make a circle graph
Graph the probabilities of the different sums that can be generated with two number cubes
An Average Lunch?:
Explore the meaning of the average (mean) value for a set of data
After the Activity
Review student results
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary