This understanding involves describing the chance of familiar events as likely or unlikely by considering possible outcomes and whether the conditions make an event occur more often or less often than its alternative. It distinguishes “likely” from certain and “unlikely” from impossible, without assigning numerical probabilities, fractions, or odds; this qualitative reasoning provides a foundation for comparing probabilities more formally later.
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Detailed Explanation: Describe events as likely or unlikely
To describe how likely an event is, think about what could happen and compare the event with its alternative.
- Likely means it will probably happen, but it is not guaranteed.
- Unlikely means it probably will not happen, but it is still possible.
- Certain means it must happen.
- Impossible means it cannot happen.
Example:
A bag has many yellow blocks and just one green block. You close your eyes and take out one block.
Step 1: Name the event.
The event is: “You take out a yellow block.”
Step 2: Think about the possible outcomes.
You could take out a yellow block or a green block.
Step 3: Compare the choices.
There are more yellow blocks than green blocks, so taking out a yellow block should happen more often.
Step 4: Describe the event.
Taking out a yellow block is likely.
It is not certain, because you could still take out the green block. Taking out a green block is unlikely, because there is only one green block, but it is still possible.
Learn by doing: Describe events as likely or unlikely
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Likelihood - Bag - Likely Or Unlikely
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Download/Modify Free Grade 2 'Describe events as likely or unlikely' Worksheet
Print this free 'Describe events as likely or unlikely' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Likelihood - Bag - Likely Or Unlikely
- Likelihood - Spinner - Likely Or Unlikely
- Likelihood - One Die - Likely Or Unlikely
- Likelihood - Bag - How Likely Is This Event
- Likelihood - Spinner - How Likely Is This Event
- Likelihood - Bag - Is This Likelihood Correct
- Likelihood - Spinner - Is This Likelihood Correct
- Likelihood - One Die - Is This Likelihood Correct
Units Teaching This Skill
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