Intro to probability

Discuss probability in language with your students. Start by drawing a spectrum on the white board. Label the left end impossible and the right end certain. Ask students to write phrases that involve probability on Post-it Notes. Then ask them to pin their phrases on the spectrum. Phrases they might come up with: 50/50 chance, slim chance, fat chance, even odds, possible. After adjusting the position of Post-its as necessary, relate the spectrum and its phrases to numbers. For example, 50/50 is \(50\% = 1/2 = 0.5,\) impossible is \(0\% = 0 = 0.0,\) and certain is \(100\% = 1 = 1.0.\) Watch this for a demonstration.