Population Sample Survey (Teacher-Developed, Classroom-Tested)
How do you estimate the size of an animal or plant population? This hands-on activity, designed by high school biology teacher Billy Borden, is an excellent introduction to probability, and helps teach students about representative sampling and other techniques used to determine population counts. Groups of students randomly scatter pinto beans on a grid, then work together to arrive at a population index based on the number of beans in one grid. Includes: large grid, cardboard fences, pinto beans and instructions. Grades 9-11.