Monday, March 19, 2012

Math - Data Analysis and Probability

For the next several weeks, our math class will be doing some interesting studies using data analysis and probability. We will also be learning about mode, mean, range, and median. This has always been one of our favorite mathematical investigations - so much fun!

We start out very simply. Last week, after workbook time, I had the students play rounds of Last Snowman Standing, one die version. Using just one die, the children practiced making tally marks each time a certain number was rolled. When they rolled the final number so that all the snowmen "melted", then they added their data on our classroom collection board. We saw that the numbers 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 were all fairly evenly distributed across the board.

Today, I wondered aloud, "What would happen if we used two dice and added the numbers? Would all the numbers still come up pretty evenly?" Using a different game board and two dice, the students started collecting and analyzing the data. We will continue to do so, and see what conclusions we can draw.

Maddy adds her results to our classroom data collection board

Hmmm, the numbers in the middle are very popular. I wonder why?




2 comments:

Unknown said...

I am learning to expect amazing subjects like this at your school. They will be so prepared for life, more so than many other schools.

Dan Pritts said...

engineer dads are supposed to understand probability. It's sad how long it took me to answer the question you posed at the end.