Utilizing Literature and Science to Teach Probability in the Elementary Classroom

This unit will address various aspects of teaching the foundations for probability and will discuss ways in which a teacher can utilize literature and science to reinforce the mathematical concepts related to probability. This unit will offer additional ways to introduce and prepare students for developing an understanding of probability while simultaneously fulfilling the curriculum concepts of the School District of Philadelphia. The lessons included in this curriculum unit will best be implemented in a first, second, or third grade classroom. The literature that will be utilized offers many extensions and suggested activities that this unit will develop and discuss.

The purpose of utilizing literature and science as pathways to introduce probability to young students is simple. When students are exposed to the same topics in a variety of different ways and at different times of the day, retention of this information is greater than when only experienced sporadically. Today’s students need to be approached in a variety of ways in order to retain and synthesize information. All learning modalities must be engaged so that visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners alike can achieve success in the classroom. With the addition of a variety of strategies, as well as various subject areas used to teach probability, the likelihood that students will acquire and retain information is greater than if only one strategy were presented. This unit will look at the variety of ways that probability can be taught in today’s elementary school classroom.