'Probability' tutor notes
The 'Probability' module is aimed at Level 1 of the Basic Skills Curriculum in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This module covers material in HD2/L1.1 and HD2/L1.2 by looking at the probability scale (from 0 to 1) and using fractions to represent probability. It also touches on using percentages and decimals to express probabilities, by converting between fractions, decimals and percentages.
Worksheets 3 and 4 offer structured investigations into coin flipping and weather forecasting, with support notes to give more explanation and ideas for extending the investigation.
We'd love to hear your comments on the module; do you like the factsheets, what do you think of the worksheets? Send in your and your students' feedback.
How does this tie in with the new curriculums?
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England
HD2/L1.1 - Understand that some events are more likely to occur than others.
HD2/L1.2 - Express the likelihood of an event using fractions, decimals and percentages with the probability scale of 0 to 1.
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Wales
As England.
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Northern Ireland
As England.
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Scotland
See www.aloscotland.com for details of the Scottish curriculum.
In the Skillswise module you'll find:
Probability factsheets
You'll find curriculum references in the top right corner of the factsheets.
There are five factsheets for this module, each on 'print-out-and-keep' sheets:
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Factsheet 1 - What is probability?
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Factsheet 2 - The probability scale
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Factsheet 3 - Using fractions with coin tossing
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Factsheet 4 - Using fractions with dice
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Factsheet 5 - Using decimals and percentages to express probability
Probability worksheets
There are 4 worksheets. You'll find curriculum references in the top right hand corner of the worksheets. They are printable resources to carry on the work learners have done online.
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Worksheet 1 - Pack of cards - calculating probabilities as fractions
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Worksheet 2 - Probability scale - placing events on a scale from 0 to 1
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Worksheet 3 - Investigation - flipping a coin. Note that the coin flipping simulators linked to above will save time when doing this investigation.
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Worksheet 4 - Investigation - recording how accurate the weather forecast is over a period of time to arrive at a probability
Probability quiz
The learner can choose their level. Level A is the easiest, level C the hardest.
Students can print out a certificate if they score 50% or more in the quiz. This will appear as a link on the results page - click on the link and the certificate will appear in a new window. Students can click and type in their name and print it, or write their name on the certificate once it's printed.
Probability game - 'Counting cards'
This game gives practice in working out probability as a fraction. There are two difficulty levels. In the simpler level you are always working with a set of 5 cards and so probabilities are written in fractions as fifths. In the harder level you could be working with up to 10 cards.
The game has two rounds of play. In round 1 you are shown a set of cards and have to give the probability of drawing a particular card from the set. In round 2 the cards you've seen are shuffled face down. Now it's a guessing game to score extra points. Knowing which cards are more common will give you an advantage. Clicking 'Help' will show you the original set too.
Your scores are remembered (until you close the game) and at the end of each round 2 you can compare your score with your previous best.
Technical help:
To get the most out of this topic area you need the following 'plug-ins':
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Flash
The game in this topic section uses Flash. This is free to download and should only take a few minutes. You can follow the BBC WebWise instructions to download it to your machine.
Find out more.
If you don't have Flash the same learning points are covered in the quiz and in the worksheets and factsheets.
If you are new to the web, why not try the BBC WebWise online course, Becoming WebWise? It's free, you can do it in your own time from any computer and it will take you through everything you need to know to use the web successfully in your teaching.
Get WebWise.
You can find out more about the technical requirements for Skillswise in our Help - Technical Information section.
Taking it further:
With Skillswise
Don't forget to visit Lesson plans and Teaching inspirations for links to more online games and activities on probability.
With the web
Here are some suggestions of other places on the web you might find useful for teaching fractions:
Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content of other websites.
Do you know of any great online resources for fractions? Tell us about
them!
