Game Theory Lesson Plans and Lesson Ideas

Game Theory

Time to get your game on! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby discuss the basics of game theory, a field of economics that formulates mathematical strategies for complex situations. You’ll learn about the basic ingredients of any game, including players, rules, consequences, and payoffs. You’ll see how game theorists use a matrix to record their results. You’ll also find out the difference between the two basic categories of games: cooperative and non-cooperative. And if you think game theory doesn’t have any connection to the real world, Tim and Moby will show you how you’re already a game theorist...you just don’t know it yet!

Heckscher-Ohlin Theory Economic Lesson Plan: The Trade Ruler Game

In this economics lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 6-12, students use BrainPOP resources to explore how a country can gain from trade according to the Heckscher-Ohlin theory. See more »

Probability and Data Analysis Lesson Plan: What Are the Chances?

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students review probability and data analysis skills learned throughout a unit of study. Students then create a paper-based or digital activity that challenges classmates to apply data analysis, graphing, and/or probability skills to fictitious or real-world situations. See more »

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BrainPOP & the Common Core »

Game Theory Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 07

CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.C.8

Find probabilities of compound events using organized lists, tables, tree diagrams, and simulation.

Grade: 07

CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.C.8b

Represent sample spaces for compound events using methods such as organized lists, tables and tree diagrams. For an event described in everyday language (e.g., “rolling double sixes”), identify the outcomes in the sample space which compose the event.

Grade: 08

CCSS.Math.Content.8.SP.A.4

Understand that patterns of association can also be seen in bivariate categorical data by displaying frequencies and relative frequencies in a two-way table. Construct and interpret a two-way table summarizing data on two categorical variables collected from the same subjects. Use relative frequencies calculated for rows or columns to describe possible association between the two variables. For example, collect data from students in your class on whether or not they have a curfew on school nights and whether or not they have assigned chores at home. Is there evidence that those who have a curfew also tend to have chores?

Grade: 09, 10, 11, 12

CCSS.Math.Content.HSN-VM.C.6

(+) Use matrices to represent and manipulate data, e.g., to represent payoffs or incidence relationships in a network.

Grade: 09, 10, 11, 12

CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5

(+) Weigh the possible outcomes of a decision by assigning probabilities to payoff values and finding expected values.

Grade: 09, 10, 11, 12

CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.7

(+) Analyze decisions and strategies using probability concepts (e.g., product testing, medical testing, pulling a hockey goalie at the end of a game).

Grade: 09, 10, 11, 12

CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-CP.A.5

Recognize and explain the concepts of conditional probability and independence in everyday language and everyday situations. For example, compare the chance of having lung cancer if you are a smoker with the chance of being a smoker if you have lung cancer.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7

Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9

Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.3

Identify key steps in a text’s description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7

Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.2

Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.7

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.