Begin by creating a set of cards with one letter of the alphabet on each card. Have the letters identified as vowels and consonants.
Put the cards inside a glass fishbowl or jar. Then ask students the following questions.
What is the probability of drawing a card that is a vowel? (The possible
outcomes are “a, e, i, o, u” so the probability is 5/26.
2)What is the probability of drawing a card that is a consonant? (the possible
outcomes are “b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z” so the
probability is 21/26.
3)What is the probability that either a consonant or a vowel will be chosen? (This
may stump students at first but they should see that the probability is 26/26 or
100%)
4)What is the probability that the letter drawn at random will be “r”? (the
probability is 1/26 that the letter will be “r”)
5)Which probability is higher? The probability that you’ll pick a vowel or a
consonant? (The probability that you’ll pick a consonant is more than four
times as high as the probability that you’ll pick a vowel.) 21/26 is over four
times as much as 5/26.
Which probability is higher? The probability that you select the “a”
card versus the probability that you select the “z” card?
(Both are equally probable, each has a probability of being selected
1 out of 26 or 1/26.)
What is the probability that the number 5 will be chosen?
(This may stump students at first until they realize that the answer is
0/26 or 0% probability.)
This game is included in a bigger bundle, you can learn more about the Focus on Probability Bundle here!!!
Looking for cool probability activities, probability games for kids and probability posters? Probability is an area of mathematics that often doesn’t get its fair share of attention in elementary & middle school classrooms.
– 12 Probability Games and Activities
– 14 Probability Posters / Anchor Charts