Big Idea:

Using the language of chance to describe the likelihood of events

Expectations:

D2. Probability: describe the likelihood that events will happen, and use that information to make predictions

• Probability: D2.1 use mathematical language, including the terms “impossible”, “possible”, and “certain”, to describe the likelihood of complementary events happening, and use that likelihood to make predictions and informed decisions

teacher background

Students may benefit from prior experience with:

• using the language of chance, such as likely/unlikely, always/sometimes/never, to describe the likelihood of a familiar event occurring

• understanding the meanings of more and less in other contexts (e.g., 5 is more than 3)

Key concepts

• The likelihood of an event can be represented along a continuum from impossible to certain.

• Complementary events are events that cannot happen at the same time.

• If the likelihood of selecting a red marble out of a bag is certain, then its complement of not selecting a red marble out of a bag is impossible.

• Understanding likelihood can help with making predictions about future events.

LOOK-FORS:

• Do students place events along the value line appropriately?

• Are students able to justify the placement of their events?

• Are students able to compare events to decide which event is more/less likely or whether they are equally likely?

• Do students have more difficulty coming up with events for some words (e.g., create events for always/certain and never/impossible, but struggle with more/less likely)?

Have volunteers share and justify the events they created for the different chance words on the line. Discuss similarities between the events that are located at the same position on the value line. Ensure students understand that when using the words less likely, more likely, and equally likely, there must be two possible events to compare. Help students see that, unless an event is certain/always or impossible/never to happen, we can never be sure that the event will happen.

Highlight for Students

• We can use the language of chance to describe how likely an event is to occur.

• Unless an event is impossible or certain, we can never be sure it will happen.

Accommodations: Students place event cards (Master 18b) on the line.

Extension: Create as many events as possible for each chance word.

Combined Grades Extension: Create events involving bags of different coloured cubes/marbles for all chance words.

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SEL Self-Assessments (English) and Teacher Rubric

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