Probability is more increasingly recognized as a priority in elementary school. In this article, the author argues that if students have a strong understanding of experimental probability, notions of theoretical probability will be easier for the student to understand. In particular, students need extensive experience with experiments using…

Simple, classroom-tested probability activities that capture students' interest, develop critical thinking skills, and reinforce addition facts are suggested. All activities involve investigating the probabilities of the sums that come up when two dice are tossed. (MT)

Activities related to content areas important to the primary mathematics program, but outside the scope of arithmetic, geometry and measurement, are presented. Topics include relations, number sentences, solving sentences, logic, probability, statistics, number theory, and the system of integers, Inclusion of these topics is justified and…

Presents various simple activities to use with two-color counters as a vehicle for teaching concepts such as observation, classification, counting, recording, graphing, developing relational language, number sense, and beginning ideas of probability. (AIM)

Activities involving rolling dice and recording results in diverse ways introduce children to a variety of basic mathematical concepts. Several games and activities are described. (SD)

The lesson described first involved tossing a pair of dice and recording on a graph the sum produced on each roll. Pupils examined questions such as which sum occurred most often. The second part involved a graph that indicated which types of sums were most likely to occur. (Author/MP)

This book reinforces the outstanding work done by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in developing curriculum standards for students in kindergarten through fourth grade by discussing the 13 strands of mathematics and their implications for teachers and parents who work with students. It also provides some suggested resources…

This publication is a response to the need expressed by elementary teachers for a concise introduction to intuitive probability concepts and how they may be presented. Instruction is divided into five concept groups including: (1) basic understandings; (2) the probability of simple events; (3) the probability of compound events; (4) counting; and…

The instruction of probability and statistics is promoted as an area for exploration in elementary school. Activities are suggested that are designed to provide pupils with opportunities to learn desired concepts through informal, exploratory exercises. A total of eight different activities are suggested, with four each under probability and…

The Comprehensive School Mathematics Program (CSMP) is described as a complete elementary mathematics curriculum that provides a natural place for probability and statistics. The CSMP approach of innovative, pictorial techniques is summarized here, with emphasis on methods and activities seen as proven successful through the enthusiastic reception…

Presents a framework for assessing probabilistic thinking based on validated data obtained from eight third grade children who served as case studies. Major constructs were sample space, probability of an event, probability comparisons, and conditional probability. Levels of thinking appear to agree with the levels of cognitive functioning…

Related research suggests that children may show some simple understanding of event covariations by the early elementary school years. The present experiments use a rule analysis methodology to investigate covariation judgments of children in this age range. In Experiment 1, children in second, third and fourth grade judged covariations on 12…

While other research has begun to contribute to our understanding of how pre-college students reason about variation, little has been published regarding pre-service teachers' statistical conceptions. This paper summarizes a framework useful in examining elementary pre-service teachers' conceptions of variation, and investigates the question of…

Discusses a framework for assessing middle school students' thinking in conditional probability and independence. Establishes four levels of thinking from subjective to numerical reasoning for both constructs. Students (n=15) from grades 4-8 were interviewed. Profiles reveal that levels of probabilistic thinking were stable across the two…