Education Technology


Tack Toss

Activity Overview

Students will gather data to calculate the probability that a tack will land point up. They will create a line plot of the classes experimental probabilities by hand and by using the frequency plot in the TI-Navigator™ Activity Center.

Before the Activity

  • Copy students worksheet page "Tack Toss"
  • Load tacks.act into Activity Center
  • Each pair of students will need 10 tacks and a cup to "roll" them out of.
  • If you choose to do a Line Plot on the wall you will need a large piece of paper (I use easel paper) with a number line marked off from 0 to 1 by either 0.1 or 0.05 and a pad of 1 ½ x 2 sticky notes. (This is a great visual to leave hanging on the wall.)
  • During the Activity

  • Have students follow the directions on the worksheet.
  • Have students log into Navigator System
  • Use Activity Center to collect their experimental probabilities and total number of points up.
  • Open a frequency plot so they can see their data as they send it.
  • Send "PROB" & "POINT" Lists to students
  • Finish up worksheet and teacher notes