LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 4

Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and determine probabilities.

Objective 4.01

Develop fluency with counting strategies to determine the sample space for an event. Include lists, tree diagrams, frequency distribution tables, permutations, combinations, and the Fundamental Counting Principle.

Resources aligned to this objective

ACC basketball
The students will use ACC basketball statistics to practice the process of converting fractions to decimals then to percents and will learn how to create and edit a spreadsheet. They will then use this spreadsheet to analyze their data. This unit is done during the basketball season.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Computer Technology Skills and Mathematics)
By Susan Dougherty.
Biomagnification and bald eagles
In this activity, students will study biomagnification by using paper cutouts to represent food containing chemicals eaten by fish. The students will then repeat this activity but as an eagle collecting fish. The amount of chemicals taken in by each eagle will then be compared to amounts taken in by each fish.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics and Science)
By Elizabeth Caveny, Janet Carson, Heather Subleski, and Jeannie Galluzzo.
Leap frogs tend toward the center?
Students learn the meanings of the central tendency concepts range, mean, median, and mode. They will make origami frogs, jump them across a track and record the length of their jumps and the total number of jumps across trials.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
By Erin Foerster.
Stocks Report
Students will create graphs illustrating changes in stocks and answer questions using the graphs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Computer Technology Skills and Mathematics)
By Susan Blackwell.

Lesson plans on the web

Adjacent circles
Students discover all the combinations that can be made from three colors to strengthen their problem-solving skills (including elimination and collection of organized data) and their ability to draw conclusions. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Baseball stats
Students use the Internet to explore datasets and statistics in baseball. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Bouncing Tennis Balls
Students develop their skills in collecting and recording data using the real-world situation of a bouncing tennis ball. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Computer Technology Skills and Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Counting Embedded Figures
Students look for patterns within a given figure, count embedded squares, rectangles, or triangles, attempt to form generalizations, and sharpen their algebraic thinking skills.

(Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Dealing with data in the elementary school
In this lesson, from Illuminations, students hone their problem-solving skills through the collection and analysis of real data. They use the mean, mode, and median to analyze their data and make graphs to represent their findings. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
History of populations
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students analyze information represented graphically. Students are asked to discuss, describe, read, and write about the graphs and the information they contain. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
How many hits?
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students continue their investigation of the Paper Pool game by exploring more tables and organizing the results. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Ice Cream Cones
Students predict the number of two-color combinations that can be made from eight colors. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Off the scale
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use real-world examples to solve problems involving scale as they examine maps of their home states and calculate distances between cities. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics and Social Studies)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Sticks and stones
In this Illuminations lesson, students play “Sticks and Stones,” a game based on the Apache game “Throw Sticks,” which was played at multi-nation celebrations. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Wrapping it up
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students finalize their work collecting data, identifying patterns, and making predictions about the game of Paper Pool. They then write a report that summarizes all of their findings. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics