This is a simple and fun game to introduce probability to students

It can be used in groups as well as 1 to 1 while tutoring

Simple to access with potential for deep thinking

The game is ahoof! CHALLENGE: Ask for the dodecahedral racing sheet and dice Today ‘the horse racing game’ is prepared to be played in pairs/3’s to show how it can be used in tutoring. Each of you in pairs (or three’s) need a racing sheet Each person picks a horse number and writes their initials next to that horse. When I say go, open your dice bag and begin. Take it in turns to roll the dice. Add together the numbers shown and put one cross in that horses row. The first one to reach the finish line wins! Think about: What number is most likely to be rolled? What is the exact probability of horse number 9 winning the race? Can you write down all of the possible ways that a sum of 6 could be rolled?

S F T I A N R H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Potential discussion points with students after the game depending on their ability Which number was most common? DICE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Probability of rolling a 7: 6 36 = 1 6 Probability of rolling a 6: 5 36

Potential discussion points with students after the game depending on their ability How to create a sample space diagram. Why was 7 the most likely? How to calculate probability with a sample space diagram Generalise and conjecture about how we could calculate probabilities in a race with a 20 sided die, and 40 horses using the patterns from the sample space created in the 12 horse race How does the horse race results link with a normal distribution curve?

Thank you!