Lesson 17
Designing Simulations
Lesson Narrative
In this lesson, students see that the probability of compound events can also be estimated using simulations. The last activity in this lesson is a culmination of all the work students have done with probability in this unit, as each group works to design a simulation for a different situation. Students strategically choose tools (MP5) like number cubes, spinners, blocks, etc., to represent the chance experiments in the situations they are given. This is also an opportunity for students to practice communicating precisely (MP6) about how their simulation is conducted and what their outcomes represent.
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Describe a multi-step experiment that could be used to simulate a compound event in a real-world situation, and justify (orally and in writing) that it represents the situation.
- Perform a simulation to estimate the probability of a compound event, and explain (orally and in writing) how the simulation could be improved.
Student Facing
Let’s simulate some real-life scenarios.
Required Materials
Required Preparation
Every 3 students need 2 coins for the Breeding Mice activity.
Print and cut up questions from the Designing Simulations blackline master. Use one question for every 3 students. Groups will need access to number cubes, protractors, rulers, compasses, paper clips, bags, snap cubes, and scissors to simulate their scenarios.
Learning Targets
Student Facing
- I can design a simulation to estimate the probability of a multi-step real-world situation.
CCSS Standards
Print Formatted Materials
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Additional Resources
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