Max Maths, Year 5, Try it, Describing the occurrence of familiar events

In an engaging exercise from the Max Maths Year 5 curriculum, students are invited to explore the concept of probability using everyday scenarios and a set of specific terms that describe the likelihood of different events occurring. The activity helps students to understand and apply the terms impossible, unlikely, even, likely, and certain to various situations.

For instance, when presented with a bag full of red socks, students are asked to determine the probability of pulling out a red sock. Given the bag contains only red socks, the likelihood of this event is described as certain. Conversely, considering the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert in summer, the likelihood of it snowing in the middle of the day is described as impossible. When flipping a coin, students explore the concept of an even chance, as there is an equal likelihood of the coin landing on tails as there is on heads. Lastly, they consider the natural law of gravity when discussing the chance of a stone dropping to the ground when released, which is also described as certain. This exercise not only teaches probability but also encourages critical thinking and the use of specific vocabulary to describe chance.