Theoretical & Experimental Probability: Hands-on Math Task with Fractions and Percentages

Theoretical and Experimental Probability: A Hands-On Math Exercise (with Fractions and Percentages)

This is a ready-to-use, engaging, two-page math activity designed for intermediate students in grade levels 4 through 7.

The product lets your students easily conduct a simple probability experiment that will help them grasp the concepts of theoretical and experimental probabilities. They will also tie this learning into other math topics by converting fraction results into percentages.

Items Needed:

• Paper bags filled with items that are red, yellow blue, and green. Ideal items can be Legos, blocks or counters.

• Bags should contain amounts of items that will easily convert from fractions to percentages- so 5 items, 10 items, 20 items, or 25 items are ideal.

Features:

• Fits seamlessly into any probability or percentage unit

• Serves as excellent practice for reinforcing equivalent fraction and percentage concepts

How to Use:

1. Split students into small groups. Give each group a bag of items and a worksheet (double-sided) for each member.

2. Students will explore their bag: count the total number of items, count how many there are of each colour, write each colour as a fraction, and convert that to a percentage. This is the theoretical probability of each event.

3. Then they perform the experiment: pulling one item from the bag and replacing it twenty times. They will use a tally chart to record the colours pulled.

4. They will turn their results (fractions out of 20) into percentages. This is the experimental probability.

5. Finally, students reflect on if the theoretical and experimental probabilities matched or did not and why that could be.

Grades to Use With:

This activity is designed for students in grades 4-7 who are learning about equivalent fractions, percentages, and probability experiments.

What's Included:

3 page PDF: Title Page and 2-page handout.

Copy double sided and you are ready to go!