Activity Detail

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Tiles in a Bag
 


Activity Overview

Students explore probability and patterns in fractions, decimals, and percents by drawing tiles out of a bag.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print student activity sheet page 114 from the attached PDf for your class.

  • During the Activity

    Distribute the page to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:
  • Prepare a "mystery bag" containing ten tiles of two different colors
  • Ask students to guess how many tiles of each of the two colors are in the bag
  • Draw out one tile, record its color, and replace it in the bag
  • After ten such trials, ask students if they wish to change their guesses
  • Record the results as fractions, decimals, and percents
  • Draw 10 more times from the bag, recording the results as fractions, decimals, and percents
  • Have students go through the same process two more times until a total of 40 trials have been made
  • Ask students to make final predictions about the combination of tiles in the bag
  • Analyze the patterns in the fractions, decimals, and percents that they recorded as their results
  • Repeat the activity with a different combination of tiles in two colors


    After the Activity

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary


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    Subject Area:
    Math : Statistics : Probability and Simulation

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8, K-4

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-10, TI-15 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 23 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Uncovering Math with Manipulatives, the TI-10, and the TI-15 Explorer

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • Small lunch bags
  • Two colored tiles
  • Pencils and markers


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