Understanding Certain, Possible, and Impossible Events

Scratch Garden

This engaging animated video introduces young students to the fundamental concepts of probability through a humorous and interactive presentation. Hosted by a quirky red character, the lesson defines and demonstrates three core probability terms: "certain," "possible," and "impossible." The video uses a clear, relatable narrative structure that begins with definitions, moves to modeled examples from the narrator's life, and concludes with an interactive quiz that asks viewers to apply what they've learned to their own daily routines. The content explores key themes of prediction and logic, helping students distinguish between events that definitely will happen, events that definitely won't happen, and events that might happen. It visually represents these concepts using a vertical probability scale, introducing the vocabulary of "likely" and "unlikely" as extensions while keeping the primary focus on the three foundational terms. The scenarios used—ranging from eating dinner to flying to the moon to meet a dwarf—blend realistic daily habits with absurd, imaginative situations to make the distinctions clear and memorable. For educators, this video is an excellent hook for a math unit on data and probability. It provides immediate classroom applications by modeling a "predict and check" format that teachers can replicate. The interactive pauses built into the video allow for real-time formative assessment, while the clear visual cues (the probability meter) offer a concrete scaffold for abstract thinking. It effectively demystifies complex vocabulary by anchoring it in the concrete experiences of a child's world.