Game show Math – Using Plinko to teach Probability Session 56: 3:30 – 4:20 PM Nirmala Naresh Miami University, Ohio Bridget McMahan West lake school district, Ohio Sunday, May 12, 2019

Agenda Introduce: Participants Research Inspirations / Standards Plinko lesson - Overview Plinko – Simulations (Collect Data) Plinko – Explorations (Tree Diagrams) Plinko – Connection to Pascal Reflections Sunday, May 12, 2019

What do the common core standards say? Collect data on a chance situation; Observe long term frequency. Develop a probability model and use it to find probabilities of events. Compare probabilities from a model to observed frequencies; if the agreement is not good, explain possible sources of the discrepancy. Find probabilities of compound events using organized lists, tables, tree diagrams, and simulation. Sunday, May 12, 2019

The Plinko game from The Price is Right Sunday, May 12, 2019

Plinko: Online simulation Sunday, May 12, 2019

Plinko Pedagogical Experience Lesson Implementation: Details Group of sixth & seventh grade students Lesson Implemented over 2 class periods Two classroom teachers – One student teacher Computer lab Watch Video – Simulate Online – Simulate using Board & Calculator Sunday, May 12, 2019

Plinko Adaptation Our board: 3 Starting & Ending slots Larger Board 9 starting slots; 9 ending slots Our board: 3 Starting & Ending slots Sunday, May 12, 2019

How to build a Plinko board? Materials Foam board / Cork Board / Cardboard Push Pins Plinko Chart Poker Chips Markers Sunday, May 12, 2019

What are your chances of winning $5000 on this board? Focus Questions What are your chances of winning $5000 on this board? If you were given only 1 chip to play on the small plinko board, which slot would you drop the chip in? Explain why you selected that slot. Sunday, May 12, 2019

Collect data Sunday, May 12, 2019

Calculator Simulation: Instructions Focus question 1: What is the probability of winning $5000 on this board? Calculator Simulation: Instructions Select PRGM Choose PLINKO ENTER Twice Sunday, May 12, 2019

How many paths? Some observations Sunday, May 12, 2019

Theoretical Probability P(winning $5000) = 1/3 (1/2 + 1/2 + 1/2) = 1/2 Sunday, May 12, 2019

A comparison Sunday, May 12, 2019

Pascal & Plinko Number of possible paths using patterns of Pascal’s Triangle http://www.mathdemos.org/mathdemos/plinko/theoretical_small.html Sunday, May 12, 2019

Student reflections: What did you learn? Plinko is a probability game Recognized that there is math in fun games like Plinko I learned how to play plinko on a calculator The probability of the data (experimental probability) Difference between theoretical & experimental Probability Better chance of winning with B I also learning that going from B to B’ works the best – I will remember this when I go on the Price is right to play Plinko Student reflections: What did you learn? Sunday, May 12, 2019

Our Reflections Importance of creating lessons that is interesting, yet engages students Observations were helpful Duration / student engagement / observe student frustrations & successes Written work Assessing student understanding / assessing my own work / how useful were the worksheets Use student inputs to enhance their classroom plinko experience Sunday, May 12, 2019

Thank you for your time! Let us talk more! Do share other probability related projects you have used in your classes. Questions? Sunday, May 12, 2019