Spin the Big Wheel! Probability (3 - 5) http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=1015
Summary:
This applet gives third through fifth graders a very brief introduction to the way probability works. Students are told to “spin the wheel” to see what they win. They are also told the probability of getting a big prize. This resembles a carnival game that many of us see at a fair or picnic. Students spin the wheel to see what they get while a box on the side of the applet keeps track of what they land on and how many times. After several turns, students can compare results and see which part of the wheel was favored, or if they came out mostly even. Students can also put the data into a circle graph to see it more visually. This is a simply way to introduce probability and is a great way to start students at an early age.
Critique:
This applet has the potential to offer a lot and it has a lot of pros and cons in my opinion. Some pros would be that it is visually appealing for students. Students are going to be more inclined to do this sort of lesson because it is hands on and can become a game for them. They are learning and they do not even know it; which is the best kind of learning. Some cons is that this is a very basic explanation of probability; So basic that I feel it is good for third graders but might come off on the easy side for fifth graders. This applet could bring in more options to land on to make it more challenging. It could also be more interactive and ask students problems and equations rather than leaving it as is. Overall, the applet opened my eyes to the benefits this could add to my classroom to get students thinking about mathematics in a positive way.
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