Modeling with Probability in First Grade

Nicole DiRocco

This unit is a first grade math unit. The lessons were created to introduce students to probability and modeling. My unit is going to focus on sorting, graphing and probability. The graphs used in this unit will be simple bar graphs. I am having my students use simple bar graphs because first grade students have a limited ability to make and read graphs beyond simple, bar graphs. Throughout the unit, my students will sort and categorize various heterogeneous samples. My students will use animal crackers to sort and gather data about how many of each animal is in a box of animal crackers. They will use Alpha-Bit cereal to sort and gather data about how many of each letter are found in a box of Alpha-Bit cereal, and M&M’s to sort and gather data about how many of each color of M&M’s are found in a bag of M&M’s. They will then graph their data and be able to analyze it by asking and answering questions about probability. My students will expand their thinking and further describe the data by creating various number sentences based on the data.