Probability spinners
Lesson overview
Outcomes
In this lesson students use the Spinners learning objects to create, test
and use spinners to perform probability experiments. The experimental
results are then compared to the theoretical probability of each situation.
Stage 4
Software used
Internet explorer, learning objects
NS4.1: Solves probability problems
involving simple events.
Stage 5
NS5.1.3 Determines relative
frequencies and theoretical
probabilities
Stage 6 General Mathematics
PB1: The language of chance
PB2: Relative frequency and
probability
Activity 1 Spinner learning objects
Divide the class into four groups and give each group
one of the following websites to visit or download the
learning objects prior to the lesson:
Advanced Builder Spinner | Spin and Label |Explore |
Match up Spinners
Students work in pairs to answer the following
questions as they use the learning objects.
 How can you predict which colour the spinner is
most likely to land on?
Spinners: spin and label - (TLF L2379 v2.0.0)
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Cont
ent/L2379/object/index.html
 How can you predict which colour the spinner is
least likely to land on?
 What would a spinner look like that had equal
chance of landing on any of the colours?
Teaching notes
Spinners: explore - (TLF L2380 v2.0.0)
These objects all do very similar things in slightly
different ways.
Spinners: advanced builder - (TLF L2377 v2.0.0)
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Cont
ent/L2380/object/index.html
Spinners: match up - (TLF L2381 v2.0.0)
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http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Content/L2
377/object/index.html
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Cont
ent/L2381/object/index.html
Activity 2 Theoretical vs relative
Explain the concept of calculating the theoretical
probability of an event using the learning objects as
examples.
Discuss the difference between the theoretical
probability of an event and the relative probability of
an event.
Ask your students to complete the Predict and Test,
Mystery Spinner or Snakes and Spinners:
Assessment learning objects.
Students may write up a report of their findings. Those
students familiar with web blogs could post their
explanations of calculating theoretical probability and
the difference between theoretical and relative
probability and then pose a challenge question for
other students to answer. For example,
What is the theoretical probability of rolling two 6's on
a pair of dice? (Hint: Use Predict and Test)
Snakes and spinners: assessment - (TLF L8868 v1.0.0)
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Cont
ent/L8868/object/index.html
Activity 3 Bias spinners
This site
<http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx
?ID=79> has a spinner where the sections can
be adjusted so that not all parts are equal.
Students can click on the + button next to the
word Exploration and work through the
activities.
Discuss with the students how the percentages
were calculated for each of the sectors.
Have your students create and test their own
spinner using cardboard and a paper clip.
Challenge students to create spinners based on
unusual percentage chances of particular
colours winning.
Spinners: predict and test - (TLF L2378 v2.0.0)
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Content/L2
378/object/index.html
Mystery spinner - (TLF L2382 v1.0.0)
http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Content/L2
382/object/index.html
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009
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Activity 4 What’s in a game?
Activity 5 Design a spinner game
This site
<http://media.emgames.com/emgames/demosite/play
demo.html?activity=M1A042&activitytype=dcr> has a
very boring game which uses a spinner.
Students, in pairs, design a spinner game which
makes use of their knowledge of probability and
covers the criteria below:

Players must pay tokens to play the
game

The aim of the game is to win the most
tokens

Players must use their knowledge of
probability to win tokens by playing the
game
Game 1
This site
<http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/html/object
_interactives/probability/use_it.html> has a much
more interesting game using a spinner.
Game 2
Students, in pairs, play both games. Game 2 involves
the students answering questions on spinner
probability before they get to spin.
Compare and contrast game 1 and game 2.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009
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