Stage 3 Chance unit
Topic:
Sequence of lessons / ideas
Suggested Time: 1 – 2 weeks
Chance
Outcome(s): NS3.5 syllabus page 73
Outcome Statement: Orders the likelihood of simple events on a number line from 0 to 1
Lesson Content
No. of Lessons
Activities / Resources
in addition to text
Assessment for learning:
Distribute chance words on cards to students
in small groups. Students discuss the meaning
and use of such terms. Students could:
 present their meanings on a poster.
 give an example of each word in a
sentence
1-2
Teacher led discussion on writing the
chance of an event as a fraction
between 0 and 1
Introduction of language specific
terms / meanings
Students place language chance
cards on a continuum between 0 and 1.
Discuss in small groups and compare
answers
The likelihood of an event
Students use card sort to
classify events into certain,
impossible or could happen.
Students complete language of
chance worksheet
Chance literacy activity
Teacher chooses some chance
activities to demonstrate to students
other chance experiences,
particularly those in games.
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1-2
2
Stage 3 Chance unit
Language of chance words
Butcher’s paper. Glue
Textas
Chance cards
Language of chance card sort
Language of chance worksheet
Chance literacy activity
See suggestions in program
1
Chance Words
never
equal chance
possible
mostly
sometimes
often
might
always
probably
certain
impossible
likely
unlikely
50 - 50
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Stage 3 Chance unit
2
More Chance Words
impossible
unlikely
certain
very likely
possible
likely
no chance
fat chance
a good chance
50 / 50
possibly
maybe / maybe not
unlikely
no hope
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Stage 3 Chance unit
3
The Language of Chance
Cut out the following statements and arrange them on a line from least likely to the
most likely.
Explain to a partner why you have chosen this particular order of placement.
After discussion with your partner you may wish to change the order of the statements.
Draw the line in your exercise books and paste the statements in the order you have
chosen.
Impossible
Fat chance
No chance
Unlikely
A good chance
Slim chance
Certain
Possibly
50 / 50
Very likely
Maybe / maybe not
Likely
Possible
No hope
Buckleys
least likely
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most likely
Stage 3 Chance unit
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Statements on the continuum activity
In small groups students decide where these statements fit on the continuum from 0 to 1.
Note to teacher: The aim of this activity is for students to read between the lines and not take these statements
at face value. This activity should generate plenty of discussion and argument.
If I blow up a balloon, it will burst.
If a plant is not watered, it will die.
If I pick a card from a standard deck, it will have a number on
it.
If I toss a coin, it will land on tails.
I will win LOTTO this year.
Tomorrow will be Friday.
If I pick a card from a standard deck, it will be a king.
Pendle Hill High School
Stage 3 Chance unit
5
Language of chance card sort
Students work in small groups to sort the chance cards under the three bold event cards.
The event is certain to
happen
The event is impossible
The event could happen
It will rain tomorrow
C
Allan wins a raffle in which he
has NO ticket
A
Sarah wins a raffle in which
she has bought every ticket
B
Tony chooses a red card from
a pack of 20 black cards
E
Elicia chooses a red card from
a pack of 20 black cards
G
Jason buys washing powder
from a store that only sells
computer equipment
J
Kirsty chooses a white marble
from a bag containing only
yellow marbles
I
We all will die
M
Tim chooses a black marble
from a bag containing black
and red marbles
Q
There will be a word with the
letter “e” in it on this card
R
A plane will take off in the
next hour
D
Helen throws a 7 with a
normal die
F
Casey uses the word
“umbrella” in the next 24
hours
H
James plays handball at
lunchtime
L
Jake will walk to the North
Pole in the next hour
K
Amy throws a number between Tim will have a drink of water
1 and 6 on a normal die
at lunchtime
P
N
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Stage 3 Chance unit
6
The language of chance
1. Describe the likelihood of each event occurring as either:
impossible (I), unlikely (U), likely (L), certain (C) or even-chance (E)
a) Christmas Day will fall on December 25 this year
b) It will rain somewhere in Australia tomorrow
c) The sun will still be visible at midnight tonight in Sydney
d) An Australian golfer will win all major championships this year
e) Every student in our class will score 100% in the next Maths test
f) A second moon of the same size will be discovered orbiting Earth
g) You will eventually buy your own house or unit
h) A card is chosen from a pack of 52 playing cards and is either red or
black
i) The numbers 1 to 10 are written on separate pieces of paper, placed in
a bag and the number 13 is drawn out
j) Someone will win first prize in LOTTO next week
k) A coin is tossed and the result is a tail
l) At least 5 students will be absent from our school on the next school
day
m) Every student in our class likes brussel sprouts
n) An odd number is showing when a die is rolled
o) You have a computer in your home
p) A woman is selected at random from a group of 20 men and 20 women
q) A person is selected at random from your class and they have a
brother or sister
r) An animal other than a horse will win the Melbourne Cup this year
s) At least one person you know has a pet
t) Your post code contains 4 digits
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Stage 3 Chance unit
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2. State two examples of impossible events
a)
b)
3. State two examples of certain events
a)
b)
4. State two examples of even-chance events
a)
b)
5. 20 tickets are sold for each spin of a chocolate wheel at a school fete. Use
the language described in Question 1 to describe the winning chances of a
person who has purchased the following number of tickets:
a) 3
b) 16
c) 7
e) 10
f) 13
g) 0
d) 20
6. Arrange the following events in order of probability, from the most likely to
the least likely:
a) the school principal will enter the classroom in the next minute
b) the numbers 1, 2 or 3 will be spun on a spinner with the numbers 1 to 5
on it
c) most students in your class are wearing watch
d) the next child born in Australia will be a boy
e) your Maths teacher will not set homework for the next two days
f) in NSW, the sun will rise in the East tomorrow morning
g) a green queen is chosen from a regular pack of playing cards
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Stage 3 Chance unit
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7. A bag contains 10 red and 10 white beads. Describe the probability of
drawing:
a) a blue bead
b) a red bead
c) a bead that is ether red or white
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Stage 3 Chance unit
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Chance Assessment
Name:
In this assessment you will be assessed on your ability to:
NS3.5 Order the likelihood of simple events on a number line
1. Describe the likelihood of each event occurring as either
impossible
unlikely
even chance
very likely
certain
a) My first throw of a die will be one
b) I will throw a zero on a die
c) When I throw a die the number will be more than one
d) I will draw a blue marble from a container of red marbles
e) I will draw a yellow marble from a container of 6 yellow and 1 blue marbles
f) I will draw a red marble from a container of red marbles
g) I will get a tail when I toss a coin
2. Give an example of an impossible event
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Give an example of an event which is certain to happen
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Give an example of an event which has an even chance of occurring
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. 50 tickets are sold in a raffle. There is only one prize. Write true or false for each of
these statements
a) Tim buys 2 tickets. He is not likely to win the raffle.
b) Glenda bought 12 tickets in the raffle. She is certain to win.
c) Alan bought no tickets. He has an even chance of winning.
d) Sherie buys 40 tickets. She has a very good chance of winning the raffle.
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Stage 3 Chance unit
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6. The spinners below stop on either red (R) or yellow (Y)
a) Which spinners are equally likely to stop on red as on yellow?
b) Which spinners are more likely to stop on red than on yellow?
c) Which spinners are more likely to stop on yellow as on red?
7. Words are written on cards and placed on a number line between 0 and 1.
These words are:
impossible
certain
50 – 50
good chance
unlikely
A number line is drawn below.
Write the correct word in the space provided to describe the chance of an event
happening.
0
1
Teacher Assessment
NS3.5 Orders the likelihood of simple events on a number line
Beginning
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Developing
Stage 3 Chance unit
Sound
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