Year 8 Term 1 Week 11 - Probability

Week 5 – Probability and Counting Outcomes

Introduction

This week, we will use sample spaces to calculate probabilities, represent events with Venn diagrams and two-way tables, and apply the product rule for counting outcomes. We will solve problems involving multiple events and combinations.

What I should already know

• How to calculate fractions (weeks 3-5).

• How to read tables and charts (7-10)

• Basic probability language: certain, likely, impossible.

Watch High School Math with Mr George - The Language of Probability.

Real-world application – Why it matters

Probability underpins insurance, weather forecasting, and risk in business. Understanding outcomes and chance helps us make better decisions.

Day 1 – Sample Spaces

What am I Learning Today?

I will be learning to list outcomes and use them to find probabilities.

Revision Reminder

Remember how to list possible outcomes when flipping a coin or rolling a die.

This leads into systematically creating full sample spaces.

Game

Play - Mathsplayground Snow Sprint Multiplying fractions

Learn

Watch Fuseschool - Probability Part 1 and Sample Spaces

Task

MEP Year 8 10.1 - Basic Probability

Conclusion

You can use sample spaces to calculate probabilities.

Day 2 -Two-way Tables

What am I Learning Today?

I will be learning to use two-way tables to calculate probabilities.

Revision Reminder

Remember how to organise data into rows and columns in a simple table.

This prepares you for using two-way tables with totals and probabilities.

Game

Play - Year 8, Statistics, Continuous Data, grouped frequency tables: mach data.

Learn

Watch White Rose Maths - Finding probability from two way table.

Task

MEP Year 8 10.2 - Basic Probability

Conclusion

You can calculate probabilities using two-way tables.

Day 3 – Venn Diagrams

What am I Learning Today?

I will be learning to represent sets with Venn diagrams.

Revision Reminder

Remember how to sort data into two groups without overlap (like a two-column table).

This helps when extending to overlapping groups in a Venn diagram.

Game

ABCYa - Fuzz Bug Sorting

Learn

Watch White Rose Maths - FInding Probability from Venn Diagram.

Task

Work through BBC BiteSize KS3: How to find probabilities from venn diagrams.

Conclusion

You can represent events using Venn diagrams.

Day 4 – Product Rule

What am I Learning Today?

I will be learning to use the product rule to find possible outcomes.

Revision Reminder

Remember how to count systematically (e.g. all outcomes for 2 dice by listing them).

This skill leads into using multiplication for quicker counting.

Game

Play Uk free maths games: Year 8, Probability, Venn Diagrams, 2 catagories.

Learn

Watch White Rose Maths: Using product rule to find total number of possible outcomes.

But you can use this to solve more difficult questions.

Watch Corbett Maths: Product rule for counting.

Task

Complete question 1-5 on the Corbett Maths worksheet.

Conclusion

You can use multiplication to find possible outcomes.

Day 5 Project – Game Show Probability

Design a game show with dice/spinners. Use sample spaces, Venn diagrams, and tables to calculate the probability of winning.

You will need to decide on how many faces there will be on the dice and how many options are on the spinner. Choose an outcome for the dice and an outcome for the spinner.

Then in Your journal, under the heading of probability, write your outcome and show the probability of that outcome using a sample space, Venn diagram and two way table. Lable each of the methods and state which you find the easiest to use and why.