Math 103 - Classroom Activity #7

Math 103 - CooleyStatistics for Teachers OCC

Classroom Activity #7 – Scrabble Tiles

In this lesson, students discover the distribution of data obtained from a standard Scrabble board game. Students then organize data by the use of bar graphs and answer questions on probability that are directly related to the sample space.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Collect data on the frequency of tiles in a standard

Scrabble board game.

Create bar graphs.
Calculate probabilities based on certain events.

Materials

Scrabble Tiles from a standard Scrabble board game (optional).
Scrabble Tiles Activity Sheet

Instructional Plan

In the board game, Scrabble, players pick several tiles and then try to make words on a board similar to a crossword puzzle. The distribution, frequency, and point values of the tiles are shown below:

Distribution of Tiles (Letter , Frequency , Point Value)

Letter / Frequency / Point Value / Letter / Frequency / Point Value / Letter / Frequency / Point Value
A / 9 / 1 Point / J / 1 / 8 Points / S / 4 / 1 Point
B / 2 / 3 Points / K / 1 / 5 Points / T / 6 / 1 Point
C / 2 / 3 Points / L / 4 / 1 Point / U / 4 / 1 Point
D / 4 / 2 Points / M / 2 / 3 Points / V / 2 / 4 Points
E / 12 / 1 Point / N / 6 / 1 Point / W / 2 / 4 Points
F / 2 / 4 Points / O / 8 / 1Point / X / 1 / 8 Points
G / 3 / 2 Points / P / 2 / 3 Points / Y / 2 / 4 Points
H / 2 / 4 Points / Q / 1 / 10 Points / Z / 1 / 10 Points
I / 9 / 1 Point / R / 6 / 1 Point / Blank / 2 / 0 Points

Distribute to students a standard Scrabble board game. Have students write the frequency distribution along with

the point values for each tile. You could also give the distribution which is included in the Scrabble Tiles Activity Sheet.

Once they are finished (or if you did not use a standard Scrabble board game), distribute the Scrabble Tiles Activity Sheet.

Have students create a bar graph on a separate sheet of paper.

Then have students in groups answer the 8 or 10 questions (depending on level) on the Activity Sheet.

Extensions

1.Students could use the Spanish version of Scrabble which has different frequencies and tiles such as Ñ. (An “N” with a diacritical tilde pronounced “eñe”).

NCTM Standards and Expectations

Data Analysis & Probability 3-5

Represent data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs

Data Analysis & Probability 6-8

1.Compute probabilities for simple compound events, using such methods as organized lists, tree diagrams, and area models.

References

This lesson was created by TopCatMath.com.

Scrabble TilesActivity SheetNAME ______

Distribution of Tiles (Letter , Frequency , Point Value)

How many total tiles are there?

Suppose you draw one tile at random, what is the probability you draw a traditional vowel?

Suppose you draw one tile at random, what is the probability you draw an ‘N’ tile?

Suppose you draw one tile at random, what is the probability you draw a 1-Point tile?

Suppose you draw one tile at random, what is the probability you draw an ‘N’ tile or a 1-Point tile?

Suppose you draw one tile at random and it is an ‘A’ tile. Draw a second tile without replacement. What is the probability you draw another ‘A’ tile?

Suppose you draw two tiles at random without replacement. What is the probability you draw both ‘H’ tiles?

Suppose you draw one tile at random, what is the probability you do not draw a 2-Point tile?

For advanced students: If one tile is drawn at random, what is the expected value or the average point value for that tile?

For advanced students: If four tiles are drawn at random, what is the probability that the letters drawn are ‘M’, ‘O’, O’, and ‘N’?