Permutations And Combinations combinations activity1

=Activity - Be a Sport with Combinations=

Estimated Time
40 min

Materials/ Resources needed

 * Pencils
 * Clear bags for paper manipulatives
 * Paper manipulatives copied, cut and placed in plastic bags
 * "The Big Sale" combinations sheet for each student

Prerequisites/Instructions, if any
Discuss the problem with the students (see "Be a Sport" combinations sheet). Explain that the store is having a 2-item special. Each customer may select exactly two items (must be different) and put them in a bag. Their job is to discover how many different bags can be made when select¬ing two items from six choices.

Process (How to do the activity)

 * Set the stage for the "Be a Sport" store - put a sign on the outside of your door, decorate your room, and/ or dress up like someone working at a sports apparel store.
 * The items in the store are hats, Jersey, Baseball Cap, T-shirt, Running Shoes, Shorts, and Sweat Pant
 * Copy and cut apart the paper manipulatives and put in clear bags.
 * Demonstrate how to select exactly two items from the six choices. Emphasize that the two items may never be identical (e.g.: they cannot select two baseball hats at the same time).
 * Have students work in groups to create all of the possible 2-item specials by selecting exactly two unique items for each bag.
 * Once groups are finished, demonstrate how to represent all of the combinations using a chart or organized list.
 * Have students create their own charts and/or organized lists to demonstrate their results.
 * Closure - discuss why there are exactly 15 possible combinations.

Developmental Questions (What discussion questions)

 * 1) In what store are you there?
 * 2) How many sports items that the store contain?
 * 3) What are the items in the store?
 * 4) How many items are to be selected?

Evaluation (Questions for assessment of the child)
In how many different ways can 4 players be selected for relay sport out of 6 players?

Activity Keywords
sports,cap,t-shirt,jersey,sweat pant,shorts,shoes

To link back to the concept page Permutations_And_Combinations