Download Spin to Win!

Spin to Win!
Be the first to get to the end of the path.
What you need
Spinners (see next page)
Game board (separate page)
One die
Two red game pieces (2 pieces of red paper)
Two blue game pieces (2 pieces of blue paper)
What to do
1. Build the spinners (see next page).
2. Each player chooses either a blue or red game piece.
Then decide who will go first.
3. Taking turns, each player rolls the die and then spins the spinner matching
the number on the die.
4. If the spinner indicates the player’s color, then the player gets to move
number of spaces on the board as shown on the die.
5. For example, the Red Player rolls the die and the number shown is 4.
The player then spins Spinner 4 and it lands on red, so he moves 4
spaces. If it hadn’t landed on red, he would not get to move.
6. First person to get to the end of the path wins!
What to ask
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Did you know?
Probability depends on the chance of an event happening and can be calculated
easily by determining what part of the time something has a chance to occur.
In some games that use a spinner, they are weighted so that the chance of
getting any number is equal (ex. Game of Life). In some games, the spinner is
divided equally but the more valuable sections occur less often than ordinary
ones (ex. Hi Ho Cheerio). Understanding how spinners work to influence the
probability of events helps players plan strategies for games.
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Before spinning predict whether or not the spinner will land on your color.
Which spinner(s) are best for your color?
Which spinner(s) are fair to both colors?
Is this game fair? How do you know?
Is it harder to get a six or is it harder to get a one? Why do you think so?
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What’s next?
• Create and color your own spinners for this game.
• Add a third color and player to the game—how will you make the spinners?
To learn more
Do You Wanna Bet? Your Chance to Find Out About Probability
by Jean Cushman
Two boys find that the most ordinary events and activities such as card games, coin
flips, sports scores and statistics, and even weather prediction are dependent on the
subtle interplay of many factors of chance and probability.
Probably Pistachio
by Stuart J. Murphy
Ever have one of those days? The kind where nothing goes right? During the course
of one terrible day, Jack learns all about probablility terms such as possible, likely,
and certain. Learning to analyze data and make predictions helps kids make good
decisions—but will it get Jack pistachio ice cream for desert?
How it helps with school
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards
Probability and Statistics: 3.14A; 4.13A-B; 5.12A-B
Underlying Processes and Mathematical Tools: 3.15A, 3.17B; 4.14A, 4.16B;
5.14A, 5.16B
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards
Data Analysis and Probability, Reasoning and Proof, Connections
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Spin to Win!
What You Need
Six spinners on this page and the next
Masking Tape
Red and blue crayons
Scissors
Paper Clips
Stiff Paper
What to do
1. Cut out the spinners.
2. Glue each one to a piece of stiff paper (A paper plate will work.)
3. Bend the end wire of the paper clip up so that most of the paper clip lays flat and the wire
sticks up into the air.
4. Carefully poke the paper clip through the center of the spinner.
5. Tape the paper clip to the spinner in the back.
6. Place the other paper clip over the wire sticking up from the spinner.
7. Put a small piece of tape onto the top of the wire to keep the paper clip from flying off.
Gently flick the paper clip and watch it spin.
Spinner 1
Spinner 2
red
red
blue
blue
red
blue
blue
red
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Spin to Win!
Spinner 3
Spinner 4
red
blue
red
blue
red
blue
blue
red
Spinner 5
Spinner 6
red
blue
blue
blue
red
red
red
blue
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win!
Start
Spin to Win!
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