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.