My favorite math lesson taught was about probability. This was my favorite lesson because it allowed the students to be completely interactive throughout the entire lesson. They learned about a concept in which they were already familiar with. I loved how it was evident that they were learning due to their immense enthusiasm throught the lesson. Below is the lesson plan for that particular lesson.
I. Subject/Content Area
• Mathematics/Probablility
I. Subject/Content Area
• Mathematics/Probablility
II. Alabama Course of Study
• ALCOS 2009: Grade 4: Determine the outcomes of simple events as likely, unlikely, certain, equally likely, or impossible.
• Verifying predictions by testing possible outcomes of a simple event.
III. Concepts
• Probability: the likelihood that an event will occur.
• Likely: an event that probably will happen.
• Unlikely: an event that probably will not happen.
• Certain: an event that is sure to occur.
• Equally Likely: just as likely to happen as not to happen.
• Impossible: an event that cannot occur.
IV. Behavioral Objectives
• The students will determine the probability of certain events using terms likely, unlikely, certain, equally likely, and impossible.
V. Evaluation
• I will evaluate the students understanding of the concepts based on classroom feedback and students completion of a probability chart.
VI. Materials
• Colored Unifix Cubes
• Clear Bag
• Smart Board
• Sticky Notes
VII. Teaching/Learning Prcedures
A. Motivation
• (I will pass out bags of filled with 10 red cubes). Is it possible or impossible to pull out a red cube? How often will you pull out a red cube? Is it possible to pull out a green cube? Is it certain that you will pull out a red cube every time?
• (I will then tell students to take out 5 of those red cubes and put in 5 blue cubes.)What are your chances of pulling out a red cube? What about a blue cube? Are your chances equal of pulling out either one? Why are they equal?
• (After that, I will instruct students to take out all but 2 of the blue cubes and put back in 3 red cubes.) Is it more likely to pull out a red cube or a blue cube? Is it likely to pull out either of them? Is it impossible to pull out a red cube? Blue cube?
B. Instructional Procedures
• Students today we are going to learn about probability. Probability has to do with the likelihood that something will happen.
• (I will then have students write notes from the Smart Board that include the different definitions and real-life examples of the words likely, unlikely, certain, equally likely, and impossible.)
• Is it possible or impossible for a fish to walk on dry land? Why is it impossible?
• Is it likely or unlikely for a 16-year-old to be in 4th grade? Why is it unlikely?
• It likely or equally likely for you to flip a coin and it land on heads or tails? Why is it equally likely?
• Is it certain that every student in here is in the fourth grade? Why or why not?
C. Closure
• ( I will then pass out 5 sticky notes to each student. A chart will be on the board and students will be instructed to stick any event that falls under each category of likely, unlikely, certain, equally likely, and impossible. Students will have 15 minutes to do this. We will then go over some of the things they put on the chart.)
VIII. Supplemental Activities (Early Finishers, Enrichment, Remediation)
• There will be no early finishers. This is a whole-group lesson.
• Students who desire enrichment will be allowed to work on probability and determining the outcome of certain events. They can practice on pages 705 and 707 in their math textbook.
• Students who need remediation will be put into small groups and work more on the concepts by doing pages 702-702 in the textbook. I will be there to guide them.
IX. Professional Reflection
• What went well? The students were constantly engaged. They behaved well for the most part. They were active learners.
• What did not go well? There were no major issues with this lesson. Students followed instruction well and seemed to be enjoying learning the concepts.
• What would I do differently? This lesson went very smoothly. Therefore, for future reference, I doubt I would alter it.
