Center Focus

Tack Probability

  1. You will need thumbtacks (not pushpins) for this activity. You might also want to download this recording sheet to go along with the center.
  2. When thrown, a tack may land in two different ways. It can land with the head down or with the pin and edge of the head on the ground (on its side). Have students predict which way a thrown tack will land most frequently.
  3. They will then do the testing, keeping track of 50 separate throws.
  4. Have them then figure out the probability for each result. For example, 40 out of 50 for the tack landing on its side.
  5. Then should then write a conclusion as to why they think the results turned out the way they did.