Materials: Paper, writing implement and coin.
Explanation: Show the kindergarten students a coin. Point out that one side has a head of someone on it, so it is called "heads;" and the other side has a different design, and it is called "tails."
Preparation: Instruct students to draw a line down the middle of their paper. Then instruct them to draw a head at the top of the left side of the paper and a different design at the top of the right side of the paper. Print the words "heads" and "tails" on the board, and instruct students to write these words under the appropriate drawing.
Toss and Tally: Let students take turns tossing the coin. After each toss, ask students to identify which side is up. Instruct students to make one mark in the appropriate column. After each student has tossed the coin, have them add up the marks in each column.
Results: Discuss the results with the students.
Materials: One die. Paper and writing implement.
Preparation: Instruct students to write the numbers one through six on their papers at the left hand side, from top down. Demonstrate how to do this on the chalkboard.
Roll and Tally: Let each student roll the die at least once. Ask students to identify the number of dots on the top of the die after each roll, then have them put a mark on their papers to the right of the corresponding number. After the students have all had equal turns rolling the die, instruct them to add the marks beside each number and write the number of marks on the corresponding line.
Results: Discuss the results with the students.
Materials: Target with a red circle in the middle. Darts. Paper and writing implement.
Preparation: Have the students draw a line down the middle of their paper. On the left side of the paper, at the top, have them draw a circle to represent the middle of the target. On the right side of the paper have the students draw a square to representing the area around the circle.
Throw and Tally: Let each student throw the dart at the target. Instruct students to record the have them count the marks on each side of the paper.
Results: Discuss the results with the students.
Materials: Enough suckers for each student to have one each. Paper and writing implement.
Preparation: Show students the suckers. Have them divide the suckers into groups based upon color. Instruct the students to count each group of suckers and record the color and the number on their papers.
Bag and Grab: Place the suckers in the bag. Instruct the students that each of them will be allowed to grab one sucker from the bag. Ask the first student which color she hopes to grab. Direct the students to look at the number by that color on their papers. Ask the students how many suckers of that color were placed int he bag. Ask the students how many total suckers were placed in the bag.
Explanation: Explain that the probability of a student pulling out a sucker of a particular color is determined by how many suckers of that color were in the bag, divided by the total number of suckers. Allow each student to take a sucker from the bag.
Recalculate: As each sucker is pulled, instruct students to retabulate the number of suckers of each color that are left, and the total number of suckers left in the bag.
Results: By the time you get to the last child, the probability of the child pulling a sucker of known color is one out of one. Discuss the results with the students.