M&Ms and Probability

I came across a great way of teaching Probability to young students. If you put two different colors in a lunch bag, (pick two different colors). For example, choose two red, and eight blue. Ask your students which color would most likely be pulled out/which color would most likely not be pulled out? This will become their prediction. You can assign your students to do it a certain number of times such as, 10 times and use tally marks to record your observations. 

Once you have done this 10 times and recorded your observations, as a class you can discuss it and figure out whether or not their prediction matched their tally chart. You can then ask a questions such as, "if I add more of the color that is fewer, what will happen?". You can repeat the process a few times with your students, and your students can see and figure out that, probability depends on different variables. 


This will create a fun and exciting way of teaching children probability. They can use the M&Ms and then enjoy them as a special treat for all of their hard work and efforts during, The M&M Candy Probability Game. 

Kindergarten Probability Activities

Here is a very simple video that I found on Youtube in order to teach young students about Probability. 

Materials Needed: 
Fair Coin
Die 
Whiteboard (Keep Score)
Dry Erase (Keep Score)

Start off with the quarter and explain to the children that when tossing a quarter it is a 50/50 chance to either get tails or heads. Record each toss on the board and go over the results of each toss. 

You can also practice this with rolling a die, record each number the students roll (in order) to see what number was rolled the most and what number was rolled the least. 

Introducing Probability

You might be thinking, how do I introduce Probability to a Kindergarten class? I know those were my thoughts when I first  learned we would have to teach children at such a young age about probability. As I researched I came across many different ways to introduce the math concept of probability. Click here Luckily I came across this great site that had a great way of introducing the math concept. It gave me the idea of introducing, possible and impossible. 

I really enjoyed the idea because it can teach children about probability, if something was possible and something was impossible. It is impossible for an elephant to go to school with you, or it is possible for an apple to be red. This activity could also be used as a"matching" game with the pictures and the vocabulary as well as making it a good reading practice for the students while learning probability, impossible and possible.

Probability Vocabulary Posters

More Likely, Impossible, Unlikely, Equally Likely, etc...

Here are a few vocabulary word posters with images that will help young children understand probability. Great way to help students visually understand probability terms certain, likely, unlikely, equally likely, more likely, less likely, impossible, possible, very likely, and very unlikely. 


 These probability posters can be placed around the room to help students visually understand probability terms. 

My First Blog!

Welcome to my blog!

Thank you for stopping by and reading a little about myself and my journey through my Math 157 course. This is my first blog ever and I am a bit nervous about this blog especially because it has to do with Math, let's just say Math has not always been my favorite subject. I had no idea where to even begin! Luckily, I came across a great website that I wanted to share with you today with tones of activities aligned with Common Core Standards. Kindergarten Math Activities. I hope you enjoy the ideas they have to offer. I look forward to learning more about the great ways of teaching young children different math concepts, throughout my Math 157 course. 

Enjoy!

Arianna