Week 12 Lesson Plan and Assessments

Lesson Plan: Fair or Unfair?

Date April 22-26, 2013

Grade Level:  10th (Students in Levels 6-9)

Number of Students: 11

Topic: Introduction to theoretical probability.

Standards:

new AK Math standard

Use probability to evaluate outcomes of decisions.

S‐MD.6. (+) Use probabilities to make fair decisions (e.g., drawing by lots, using a random number generator).

LYSD Standard: The student demonstrates a conceptual understanding of probability and counting techniques by

M6.4.5 determining or comparing the experimental and/or theoretical probability of independent or dependent events

Technology Standard

Nets-C

2.g. Coach teachers in and model effective use of technology tools and resources to continuously assess student learning and technology literacy by applying a rich variety of formative and summative assessments aligned with content and student technology standards

Duration:  50 min classes for one week

Goals/Objectives:

Students will play a game to be able to determine that a game that seems fair is actually unfair after analyzing the game in a logical manner and find out why things happened as they did.  Students will also create either a glog, a blog, or a powerpoint presentation to communicate results and their conclusions.

Materials: pencil, index cards to keep score, 2 coins per group, and access to computers

Procedure:

• Explain to the group that they are going to play a game dealing with probability.
• Group the students into groups of three.
• Each group gets 3 index cards to keep score on.  Randomly assign players A,B, and C.
• The groups each get two coins to toss and are assigned points according to the following rules.
• Player A gets 1 point if the coin toss results in two heads, player B gets 1 point if the toss results in two tails, and player C gets 1 point if the coin toss results are mixed (one head and one tail).
• The game is over after 20 tosses.  The player who has the most points wins.
• The students play the game 3 times.  After each game they discuss whether they think the game is fair or unfair and make predictions about who will win the next game.
• As a class, have a discussion about the fairness of the game.  Challenge the students to make an argument not based on the data as whether the game is fair or unfair and why.
• Students will also create: a glog, a blog, or a powerpoint presentation to communicate results and their conclusions.

Assessment:

Pre-Assessment

KWL Chart

Topic: Experimental and Theoretical Probability	Topic: Fairness vs. Unfairness using probability
What I Know	What I Want to Know	What I Learned

Post-Assessment

Will take the form of filling in the What I Learned section of the KWL chart, and the Rubric for this lesson that is available in Week 10 blog posting, and final technology project.