Coincidence

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/coincidence

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the defining characteristic?A remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances lacking apparent causal connection
2. What is the historical context?Historically interpreted through lenses of fate, divine signs, or synchronicity
3. Why do coincidences feel so important to us?Our brains love patterns, so when something unusual happens together, we think it must mean something. This can make us feel that the universe is sending a message.
4. Are coincidences really random or do they mean something?Statistically, many coincidences are just random. The more chances we have, the more likely we’ll see surprising matches, like the birthday problem where 23 people have a 50% chance of sharing a birthday.

Causality: The relationship between cause and effect, where one event directly leads to another.
Synchronicity: Meaningful coincidences that are not causally related but appear connected by significance.
Cognitive Bias: Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.