Use with Speakers or Headphones
Probability and Chance
Grade 5 Math Lesson
Everyday Mathematics 12.2
by Mrs. Karen McDermott
References/Resources

Everyday Mathematics Journal 2
Bell, M., Bretzlauf, J., Dillard, A., Hartfield, R., Isaacs, A., McBride, J., Pitvorec, K., & Saecker,
R. (2007). Everyday Mathematics: The University of Chicago School Mathematics
Project. Student Math Journal. 2 (399-402). Write Group/McGraw-Hill Chicago, IL

Video
Michael Gross (Producer). (1996). Bill Nye the Science Guy: Probability Classroom Edition
[Full Video]. Available from http://youtu.be/Sqq4k50dxbI
 Clip Art
Microsoft Clip Art. (2012). Images and More. Retrieved from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

Web 2.0 Game
PBS Kids. (2011). PBS Kids Go! Cyber Chase. Games: Disguise Combinations. Retrieved from
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/media/games/combinations/index.html/

Activity Sheets
Super Teacher Worksheets. (2012). Super Teacher Worksheets: Printable Worksheets for
Teachers and Homeschool Families. Probability. Retrieved from
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/
Just what is probability or chance?
probability tells the chance that an event
will happen. For example, the probability
that a fair coin will show heads is ½ .
The closer a probability is to 1, the more
likely it is that the event will happen.
The closer a probability is to 0, the less
likely it is that the event will happen.
Coin Toss
 Fair = 2 Possibilities
 Certain = Both Heads
 Impossible = Both Tails
Spinner activities to try
 The Raja was beaten in a spinner game
 Stop and complete two of the pages from
Superteacherworksheets.com on Spinners
Probability and dice
 How many possible outcomes are there on
one die?
 Is each as likely as the other?
 Does the chance change when you roll two
dice?
 How and why?
 Make a list of all possible outcomes in an
organized manner
1+1=2
Make an organized list
 What are the possible outcomes of rolling two six
sided dice? Draw and complete the table listed
below in your math notebook.
 (Borrow dice to help you complete this chart.)
2
3
1+1
1+2
2+1
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12
Notebook activities to explore
http://express.smarttech.com/#
Combinations and tree charts
 Remember Prime Factorization?
 A Tree Chart can be useful in organizing
the outcomes of combination problems
24
6 * 4
2 * 3 * 2 * 2
What’s to eat for breakfast?
 We have choices and options to explore each
day. Have you ever thought about them as
chance, choice, and probability?
 Let’s say you could have eaten: a bagel or a
bowl of cereal for breakfast, chosen milk or
orange juice as a drink and had an apple,
banana, or pear too.
 There are a lot of different combinations that
could be made from these food choices
Tree chart organization
 Organized as a tree chart your options are much easier to see
You
Bagel Cereal
Milk OJ
Milk
OJ
Apple Banana Pear Apple Banana Pear Apple Banana Pear Apple Banana Pear
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 .
How does this connect to probability?
What if you would randomly grab
breakfast?
What is the chance, likelihood, or
probability of you grabbing a bowl of
cereal, and apple and a glass of milk?
One in twelve (1/12)
Can you find a mathematic method for
determining probability?
Hint – how many options are there? How many
outcomes? Is there a link between these numbers?
Try out these clever combinations
 Click to follow the link to the combination activity
Math Journal activities to complete
Complete Math Journal pages:
399
400
401
402
You may work on them independently or
with a partner
Have your work checked
Enjoy this video on probability
Click on the TV to start the twenty minute probability video
Extension
 1. Complete this
sheet
 2. SMART Notebook
 Open SMART
Notebook
 From the
Gallery: Add an
interactive dime
and penny to the
slide
 3. Use the coins to
complete an
experiment