Type of activity: In-class, small-group

Statistical topics: probability and statistical inference

Time needed: 15 minutes

Materials needed:

• An activity form (HTML Version) for data collection
• One brown lunch bag filled will green and blue mints for each group

1. Ask students to break up into groups of size 4 or 5.
2. Give one activity form and brown lunch bag to each student.
3. Tell the students NOT to look in the bag throughout the activity.
4. Inform the students that you claim 60% of the mints in the bag are green and that their goal is to determine whether this claim is valid.
5. In order to test this claim, the students will take a random sample of 30 mints from the bag.
6. To take the sample, have the students pick one mint from the bag (without looking in the bag), record its color on the activity form, place the mint back in the bag, and then shake the bag before the next mint is drawn.
7. Ask the students to repeat this step until the group has drawn and recorded 30 mints in total.
8. When they are finished with picking the random sample, have each group tally their results.
9. Ask the students to answer the questions on the activity form.

Supplementary materials:  Activity Form: HTML Version