Virginia SOL 7.PS.1
SOL Standard (Knowledge and Skills Cluster)
The student will use statistical investigation to determine the probability of an event and investigate and describe the difference between the experimental and theoretical probability.
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics
Cluster contents
Knowledge and Skills in This Standard
7.PS.1 is a Standards of Learning standard. These are the knowledge and skills expectations under it.
- 7.PS.1.a
Determine the theoretical probability of an event.
- 7.PS.1.b
Given the results of a statistical investigation, determine the experimental probability of an event.
- 7.PS.1.c
Describe changes in the experimental probability as the number of trials increases.
- 7.PS.1.d
Investigate and describe the difference between the probability of an event found through experiment or simulation versus the theoretical probability of that sa...
Teacher's field guide
What This Cluster Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students find an expected chance by comparing favorable outcomes with all possible equally likely outcomes. They use trial results to find an observed rate, then compare the two values. They track how the observed rate changes as more trials are added.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students identify all equally likely outcomes and write the expected chance as a fraction, decimal, or percent. They calculate an observed rate from trial data and explain why it usually gets closer to the expected chance over many trials.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat a small set of results as proof of what must happen next. They may also switch the numerator and denominator or expect observed results to match the expected chance exactly.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “A fair number cube is rolled 60 times and lands on 4 eight times. Find the expected chance and observed rate, then explain the difference.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have pairs flip a coin 10, 50, then 100 times, recording heads and comparing each observed rate with one-half.
Ask students to explain why rolling no sixes in 12 trials does not mean the number cube is unfair.
Play a spinner prediction game where teams calculate expected chances, run trials, and earn points for accurate calculations and comparisons.
Use a weather forecast showing a 30 percent rain chance, then compare the forecast with rain records from 20 similar days.
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Printable 7.PS.1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 7.PS.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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