This set of resources uses Flash movies that simulate probability experiments.

The simulations could be used when teaching probability from Key Stage 2 upward.

Lesson Plans

Tossing coins
Spinning Spinners
What's in the bag?
Tree Diagrams
Ice cream investigation
Chase Me

Probability Simulations

The following Flash movies simulate typical probability experiments. Carry out the experiments in the usual way with the whole class and then run the simulations to generate a large number of trials.

The simulations couild be left running to produce thousands of trials. How long would the computer have to be left on to toss ten coins each ten million times? As the simulations progress a bar chart is drawn showing the distribution of the scores.

• Tossing coins

  Toss up to ten coins ten million times !

• Spinning spinners

  Spin a variety of spinners

• What's in Santa's sack?

  Simulates picking a present from Santa's sack and replacing it. Can you predict what's in the sack after 10 replacements...100 replacements?

• Chase Me

  Roll two dice and see if the hare can catch the tortoise