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This A Tasty Sample(r): Teaching about Sampling Using M&M’s activity also includes:
Here's a sweet activity! As part of a study of psychological research methods and statistic gathering, individuals develop a hypothesis about the number of each color of M&Ms in a fun-size package. They then count the number of each color, record their findings on a frequency distribution data sheet, and compare their findings to their prediction.
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CCSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- To underscore the concept that variability decreases as sample size increases, combine that findings of pairs, then groups, and finally of the entire class
- The activity is also appropriate for statistics classes
Classroom Considerations
- The second activity in a three-part sequence on psychology research methods and statistics
- Best used with the attached reference sheet
- Requires purchase of fun-size packs of plain M&M's
Pros
- The resource includes information about the history of M&Ms, statistics provided by the manufacturer about color distribution, and a template for the frequency distribution data sheet
Cons
- None