Math lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes
Compound events and sample spaces
Statistics and probability
CCSS 7.SP.C.8England: KS3 ProbabilityEngland: GCSE Foundation Probability
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Compound events and sample spaces.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Probability of simple events; Multiply fractions
Leads to: Tree diagrams and Venn diagrams; Permutations and combinations; Count outcomes with lists, grids and the counting principle
Materials: Squared paper for charts, Class survey data, Sticky notes for a live chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Probability of simple events; Multiply fractions). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What is the probability of picking a vowel from the letters of the word MATHS? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 1/5Prompt: List all the equally likely outcomes.
- What is the probability of rolling a number greater than 4 on a fair six-sided dice? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 1/3Prompt: List all the equally likely outcomes.
- What is the probability of rolling a prime number on a fair six-sided dice? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 1/2Prompt: List all the equally likely outcomes.
Hook · 5 min
- Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
- Share the objective: Compound events and sample spaces. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Two fair dice are rolled and the scores added. What is the probability the total is 8? Give a fraction in simplest form.
- Step 1: 5 pairs add to 8.
- Step 2: P = 5/36
- Answer: 5/36
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Two fair dice are rolled and the scores added. What is the probability the total is 4? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 1/12Prompt: There are 6 × 6 = 36 equally likely outcomes.
- A coin is flipped and a six-sided dice is rolled. What is the probability of heads and a 3? Give a fraction. → 1/12Prompt: For independent events, multiply the probabilities.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Arjun has 5 T-shirts, 3 pairs of trousers and 2 pairs of trainers. How many different outfits (one of each) can Arjun make? → 30Prompt: Use the counting principle: multiply the number of choices.
- A coin is flipped and a six-sided dice is rolled. What is the probability of heads and a 1? Give a fraction. → 1/12Prompt: For independent events, multiply the probabilities.
Watch out for
- Forgetting to put data in order before finding the median.
- Reading a bar's height wrongly when the scale goes up in 2s or 5s.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Probability of simple events.
- Use concrete materials: squared paper for charts.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Tree diagrams and Venn diagrams; Permutations and combinations; Count outcomes with lists, grids and the counting principle.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder