Independent Events

Strand: Statistics and Probability (Chance and Uncertainty)
Outcome: 2

Step 3: Plan for Instruction

Guiding Questions

What learning opportunities and experiences should I provide to promote learning of the outcomes and permit students to demonstrate their learning?
What teaching strategies and resources should I use?
How will I meet the diverse learning needs of my students?

A. Assessing Prior Knowledge and Skills

Before introducing new material, consider ways to assess and build on students’ knowledge and skills related to probability, such as conducting an experiment and using graphic organizers such as a tree diagram or a table to find the equally likely possibilities.

Ways to Assess and Build on Prior Knowledge

B. Choosing Instructional Strategies

Consider the following general strategies for teaching when planning lessons:

Build on the students' understanding of experimental and theoretical probability, focusing on two independent events (e.g., tossing a coin twice).
Provide a variety of hands-on activities using manipulatives such as coins, dice, spinners, playing cards or objects in a bag.
Provide various strategies for calculating probability (e.g., the use of tree diagrams, tables and area models).
Provide opportunities for the students to develop critical thinking skills by choosing activities that stem from real world situations. These skills are necessary so that students will not be misled or blinded by the statistical society that we live in.

C. Choosing Learning Activities

Learning Activities are examples of activities that could be used to develop student understanding of the concepts identified in Step 1.

Sample Learning Activities
The Game of Sticks and Stones	Download Activities
Sticks and Stones Revisited	Download Activities