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

To link back to the concept page Topic Page Link