1. Plan It

A. Gather your objects.

• Gather lots of small objects. Group them by kind. Write down how many of each kind of object you have.
• Mix up the objects in a large shallow box and cover them with sand.
• Put string over the sand to make a grid. Draw a grid with the same number of squares on grid paper. Number each square.
• Make a table to record how many objects of each kind you find. See page 163 of your textbook or use the Object Table here on Education Place.

My planning completed

2. Put It Together

A. Choose a square. Choose a grid square as your first sample space. Carefully dig up its contents. If an object is partly in your square, dig it up!

• As you uncover each item, draw it on the paper grid.

B. Count the objects. Count the number of objects you find in your square. Record your findings by kind.

• Repeat by digging up another sample.

Our counting completed

3. Wrap It Up

Multiply! Multiply the number of each kind of object you found in one square by the total number of grid squares in the box. Do this for both samples.

• Do the products from either sample come close to the actual contents?

Multiplication completed

4. Discuss Your Results

• Is your math correct in describing your squares?
• Did your grid accurately show the site?
• Did you record your findings accurately?
• Did your group divide the work among all its members fairly?
• Which group's samples predicted their box contents most clearly?

Review completed