• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Tree diagrams and Venn diagrams). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A bag has 4 red and 3 blue counters. Two are taken without replacement. What is the probability both are red? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 2/7Prompt: Multiply along the branches of the tree diagram.
2. In a class of 41, 20 play guitar, 22 play piano and 8 play both. One student is chosen at random. What is the probability they play guitar or piano (or both)? Simplest form. → 34/41Prompt: Draw a Venn diagram. Put the 'both' number in the overlap first.
3. A bag has 3 red and 5 blue counters. Two are taken without replacement. What is the probability both are red? Give a fraction in simplest form. → 3/28Prompt: Multiply along the branches of the tree diagram.

• Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
• Share the objective: Complete and use a two-set Venn diagram. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: In a club of 32 students, 19 play chess, 13 play the guitar and 5 do neither. How many do both?
• Step 1: 32 − 5 = 27
• Step 2: 19 + 13 − 27 = 5
• Answer: 5
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. In a club of 58 students, 32 play chess, 30 play the guitar and 9 do neither. How many do both? → 13Prompt: How many do at least one activity?
2. Venn diagram of 44 people: apples only 10, bananas only 18, both 4, neither 12. A person is chosen at random. Find the probability they like apples but not bananas. Give a fraction in its simplest form. → 5/22Prompt: Decide which regions of the diagram you need.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. In a club of 53 students, 30 play chess, 22 play the guitar and 12 do neither. How many do both? → 11Prompt: How many do at least one activity?
2. Venn diagram of 27 people: apples only 6, bananas only 8, both 2, neither 11. A person is chosen at random. Find the probability they like apples but not bananas. Give a fraction in its simplest form. → 2/9Prompt: Decide which regions of the diagram you need.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-9.