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How to Teach Simple Probability Problems

The concept of probability can be tricky to explain to students. Probability, which is the likelihood that an event will occur, is likely to mean nothing to kids unless they are able to experience it firsthand. The concept of probability might seem simple, but there are often other variables to consider. For example, the probability of drawing a red ball from a set of colored balls depends on the number of other balls in the set. Probability games and puzzles illustrate the concepts of probability and allow students to learn through practice and experience.

Coins
Dice
Red balls
Blue balls
Pencils
Paper

Instructions

- 1
  Give each one of the students a coin. Ask them to think about the chances of tossing heads and tossing tails. Ask them to estimate the number of times they would get heads or tails if they tossed the coin 10 times. Tell the students to toss their coins 10 times and record the results on paper. Explain that each side has a 1 in 2 chance of appearing. The students' results should approximately reflect this. Explain that the more times the coins are tossed, the nearer each distribution of heads and tails will be to 1 in 2.
- 2
  Distribute a die to each of the students. Ask them to roll their dice and think about the probability of each of the sides coming up, bearing in mind that a die has six sides. Tell the students to throw their dice 20 times and keep a tally on paper of how many times each side of the die appears. Explain that each side has a 1 in 6 chance of appearing. The students' results should approximately reflect this.
- 3
  Count 3 red balls and 5 blue balls into a tub. Point out that there are 8 balls altogether. Ask the students to write down the probability of picking a red ball if you closed your eyes and picked out a ball. Tell them that there is a 3 in 8 chance of picking a red ball because there are 3 reds and 5 blues, totaling 8 balls. Allow the students to experiment with the balls for about 5 minutes and to tally their results on paper. Add another blue ball to the tub. Ask the students what the probability is now that a red ball will be drawn. Allow the students to experiment with the balls and make tallies. Explain that the chances of drawing a red ball are now 3 in 9 or, cancelled down, 1 in 3 chances.
- 4
  Tell the students to think of a number between 1 and 10. Ask them to write down the probability of choosing any one of those numbers. Explain that there is 1 chance in 10. Ask students the probability of picking an even number between 1 and 10. Explain that there are 5 even numbers from 1 to 10, so there is a 5 in 10 chance or, cancelled down, 1 in 2 chance of picking an even number. Do the same for odd numbers.

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