A Sweet Tasting Demonstration of Random Occurrences

We describe an active learning demonstration using LifeSavers ® candy to illustrate the phenomenon of random occurrences. We provide each student with a roll of Five Flavor LifeSavers. In a dyad, students take turns trying to guess the flavor of candy in their mouths when deprived of the senses of sight and smell. Because there are 5 flavors of candy, students have a 20% chance of randomly guessing the correct flavor. In a sample of 49 undergraduates, student performance reflects this chance guessing rate. Students report that this demonstration was informative and enjoyable. Exam results indicate that students mastered the concept of random occurrences. We discuss other uses of this demonstration.