Browse lesson plans

Biologists: Working with probability

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 2.7

In this lesson for grade six, students will use theoretical probability to predict genetic outcomes, and will understand how mathematical probability is used in biological careers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics and Science)

By Kim Abrams, Mike McDowell, and Barbara Strange.

Exploring probability

Through teacher guidance, students will experiment with objects to generate probable outcomes to consider probability.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 7 Mathematics)

By John Cleveland.

Exploring probability : Part 1 of 2

This lesson will introduce students to probability using resources of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop Interactivate Your Bored Math Students. Students will discover the rule for calculating simple probability as well as explore the ideas of experimental and theoretical probability.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Wendy Korbusieski.

Exploring probability: Part 2 of 2

This lesson will introduce students to the concept of fairness as it relates to probability (following Part 1 of this lesson which introduces the concept and procedure for calculating probability). Both of these lessons use the resources of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop Interactivate Your Bored Math Students. Students will define fairness and determine if a game is fair.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Wendy Korbusieski.

Medical careers: Working with probability

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 2.8

In this lesson for grade six, students will use probability to predict the likelihood of occurrence of two unrelated health conditions and will understand how math can be applied to careers in mathematics.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Kim Abrams, Mike McDowell, and Barbara Strange.

So many choices, so little time

This lesson will introduce students to Theoretical and Experimental Probability using Crazy Choices and Spinner, a resource of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop Interactivate Your Bored Math Students.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Beth Jorgensen.

Spin away

Children will work in groups using spinners with 4 colors to make predictions about probability, gather and record data, and make conclusions about outcome.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 7 Mathematics)

By Gloria Wilson.

Spin, toss, and roll!

Students will use hands-on experiments to find the probability that certain events will occur.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Carol Baldwin.

Teaching mathematics through literature

This lesson is a collaborative pair learning activity which uses the book Jumanji to teach Probability.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 English Language Arts and Mathematics)

By Brenda Davis.

Resources on the web

The bread basket

In this lesson, students conduct a survey and create bar graphs. After the teacher divides students into groups, the class participates in a series of math lessons that focus on a food court. Students learn how to make bar graphs using the data they collect.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Ice cream cones

In this lesson, students are encouraged to discover all the combinations. Students predict the number of two-color combinations that can be made from eight colors. This activity strengthens the students' problem-solving skills (including elimination and... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

K-12 Statistics Page

Innovative, standards-based, technology-intensive mathematics and science instruction at the K-16 levels. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Project Interactivate

Online tools and interactive applets to make math make sense to secondary students. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Shodor Foundation

Rescue mission game

Students play a game to learn about the four forces of flight: lift, drag, thrust, and weight. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and detailed instructions for completing the lesson. Students will: Identify and use the four forces... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Shorts and shirts

Students apply problem-solving skills to draw conclusions and the use of higher-level thinking skills is emphasized. Using an activity sheet provided by Illuminations, students predict different ways outfits can be colored. Then, the class analyzes their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

The soup spot

In this lesson, students conduct a survey and create pictographs and line plots. After demonstrating how to read a bar graph, the teacher places students in small groups in order to complete the rest of the activities for the lesson. Students determine... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Sticks and stones

While playing “Sticks and Stones,” a game based on an Apache game, students collect data, investigate the probability of various moves, and determine the average number of turns necessary to win the game. Working in small groups, students develop... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Survey of hair and eye colors

In the following lesson, students participate in activities in which they focus on the uses of numbers. The tasks explore how students use numbers in school and every day settings as a way for students and the teacher to get to know each other at the beginning... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

TeachEngineering

This site provides inquiry-based lessons and activities which integrate applied science and math content within an engineering context which students will find relevant to their lives. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Up on top

In this lesson, one of a four-part unit from Illuminations titled “Look at Me,” students generate bar graphs. Posing and answering questions using the graphs gives students an opportunity to apply their reasoning and communication skills. They... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations