Puzzles, games and puzzle hunts · Maths CAS idea
Run a probability games stall at a fair
CreativityService
Design fair, fun probability games for a school fair or charity event, explaining the odds on cards so visitors can see how they work.
Where the maths comes in
Expected value, fairness and clear explanations of odds.
Which CAS strand it fits
- Creativity: The arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
- Service: Unpaid, voluntary work with others that also has a learning benefit for you.
Your CAS coordinator decides how an experience counts at your school. Strand summaries are provisional (our words, being checked).
How to run it
- Agree with the organisers what is allowed.
- Design games and calculate expected values.
- Make signs explaining the probabilities.
- Run the stall and record takings and comments.
How to evidence it
- Game designs and calculations
- Signs
- Takings (handled by an adult) and comments
Date everything and keep it in your school's CAS portfolio as you go. More on what counts as evidence.
Reflection prompts
Questions to think about, not answers to copy. Write your reflections in your own words, in whatever form your school accepts.
- How did you make the games fair and still raise money?
- What did visitors understand about the odds?
- Where did the ethics of games of chance come into it?
Learning outcomes this often gives a chance to show
- Ethics. What choice in this experience had a right and a wrong way to do it? Whose interests did you have to protect (privacy, safety, fairness), and how?
- Initiative and planning. What did you plan, and what did you have to change once you started? Who did you need to ask for permission or help, and how did you go about it?
- Challenge and new skills. What could you not do at the start that you can do now? Which moment felt most uncomfortable, and what did you do next?
Whether you meet an outcome depends on what you actually do and reflect on, not on the idea. Outcome labels are our short summaries, being checked.
Safety and ethics
- Check the event's rules on games of chance; do not run gambling-style games for under-18s.
- Money is handled and counted by a responsible adult.
Agree every plan with your CAS coordinator first. Safety and ethics for maths CAS.
For puzzle ideas to adapt (never copy), browse competition maths.