Middle School Internet Sites (6-8)

Sixth Grade

1. Number & Operations (N)

2.  Algebra (A)

3. Measurement (M)

4. Geometry (G)

5. Data and Probability (D)

5. Data and Probability (D)

1. Understand the Concept of Probability and Solve Problems

Sixth Grade

Understand the Concept of Probability and Solve Problems

1. D.PR.06.01 Express probabilities as fractions, decimals, or percentages between 0 and 1; know that 0 probability means an event will not occur and that probability 1 means an event will occur.
   1. Certain and Impossible Events -
      This site defines certain and impossible events. The student will identify as certain or impossible, and to compute the probabilities of these events. Interactive spinners and dice are included. The student takes a short quiz after reading and working with the interactive spinners and dice.
   2. Dice Table
      This activity allows the user to calculate the probability of each number (2-12) appearing when two dice are rolled. They also get practice converting probabilities into fractions, decimals, and percentages. This site gives why, what, and how to tips for the user.  Student centered activity.
   3. Fish Tank - Math Files
      Outstanding - This is a student interactive site, where students must add or remove colored fish to a tank to achieve the correct answer, finding the probability of removing a red fish from a group of yellow and red fish in the tank. Several levels of difficulty, to challenge all learners. Levels two and three are much harder. In these levels, students must remove or add fish to get the desired probability (listed in either decimal or fraction form). Students have to really use their problem-solving skills in level three.
   4. Introduction to Probability
      This site defines experiment, outcome, event, and probability. The site helps to understand the formula for finding the probability of an event and to find the probabilities of simple events with equally likely and with non-equally likely outcomes. Interactive spinners and dice are included. The student takes a short quiz after reading and working with the interactive spinners and dice.
   5. Simulating Probability Situations
   Students can use interactive box models to explore probability. Open-ended questions are included. Bar graphs of the experiments are automatically generated.
   6. The Cereal Box Problem - A Lesson in Expected Value
      This activity addresses the NCTM Standard for Probability for grades 5-8 through it's use of modeling situations and asking students to make predictions. It includes online simulation of the problem in addition to a hands-on activity using dice and a pencil and paper. Also includes teacher notes, references and related questions.
   7. What Are Your Chances to Win? $Lottery
      The student is taken through a short explanation of how to determine their chances of winning a 3 digit lottery draw.  They use this information to determine probably for other lottery games.
2. D.PR.06.02 Compute probabilities of events from simple experiments with equally likely
   outcomes, e.g., tossing dice, flipping coins, spinning spinners, by listing all possibilities and finding the fraction that meets given conditions.
   1. Area Probability (Throw Darts!)
      Students manipulate the size of a circle and a rectangle to explore the probability that a dart thrown into a rectangle will land in the circle.
   2. The Birthday Problem: A short lesson in probability
      This activity surveys the possibility of birthdays occurring on the same day in as small a group as 28 students. It also extends the problem to using a computer to simulate this problem to see what the probability generated by a random list of birthdays would be.
   3. The Cereal Box Problem - A Lesson in Expected Value
      This activity addresses the NCTM Standard for Probability for grades 5-8 through it's use of modeling situations and asking students to make predictions. It includes online simulation of the problem in addition to a hands-on activity using dice and a pencil and paper. Also includes teacher notes, references and related questions.
   4. Certain and Impossible Events
      This site defines certain and impossible events. The student will identify as certain or impossible, and to compute the probabilities of these events. Interactive spinners and dice are included. The student takes a short quiz after reading and working with the interactive spinners and dice.
   5. Dice Table
      This activity allows the user to calculate the probability of each number (2-12) appearing when two dice are rolled. They also get practice converting probabilities into fractions, decimals, and percentages. This site gives why, what, and how to tips for the user.  Student centered activity.
   6. Figure This! Math Challenges for Families
      Figure This! Mathematics Challenges for Families provides interesting math challenges that middle-school students can do at home with their families. Each challenge features a description of the important math involved, a note on where the math is used in the real world, a hint to get started, complete solutions, a "Try This" section, additional related problems with answers, questions to think about, fun facts related to math, and resources for further exploration. Math Challenge #26 is an example of a problem that would help teach this particular benchmark.
   7. Fish Tank - Math Files
      Outstanding - This is a student interactive site, where students must add or remove colored fish to a tank to achieve the correct answer, finding the probability of removing a red fish from a group of yellow and red fish in the tank. Several levels of difficulty, to challenge all learners. Levels two and three are much harder. In these levels, students must remove or add fish to get the desired probability (listed in either decimal or fraction form). Students have to really use their problem-solving skills in level three.
   8. Independent and Dependent Events 
      After a brief explanation and example of independent and dependent events, the student conducts experiments, tally results, and determine probability to find the number of yellow chips in a bag.
   9. Introduction to Probability
      This site defines experiment, outcome, event, and probability. The site helps to understand the formula for finding the probability of an event and to find the probabilities of simple events with equally likely and with non-equally likely outcomes. Interactive spinners and dice are included. The student takes a short quiz after reading and working with the interactive spinners and dice.
   10. Math Goodies: Probability Independent Events
       Introduces probability by giving examples and interactive samples. Introduction to independent events with challenging exercises, as well as interactive games and puzzles are included.  Challenging quiz for students is found at the end of the lesson.
   11. Replacement and Probability
       This site is a teacher lesson plan which goes through a step by step description of the differences between dependent and independent events. It allows the teacher to use hands-on activities to show students the difference. It then has follow up questions for the students.
   12. Simulating Probability Situations
   Students can use interactive box models to explore probability. Open-ended questions are included. Bar graphs of the experiments are automatically generated.
   13. The Cereal Box Problem - A Lesson in Expected Value
       This activity addresses the NCTM Standard for Probability for grades 5-8 through it's use of modeling situations and asking students to make predictions. It includes online simulation of the problem in addition to a hands-on activity using dice and a pencil and paper. Also includes teacher notes, references and related questions.
   14. What Are Your Chances to Win? $Lottery
       The student is taken through a short explanation of how to determine their chances of winning a 3 digit lottery draw.  They use this information to determine probably for other lottery games.

| Back | Next | Top of Page |