Heads & Tails Game

The Heads & Tails Game was designed to introduce young students to the probability of a single coin toss.  By playing the game and adding results to a class tally, students will learn that the outcomes of heads and tails are equally likely.


To start the game, each player places a penny on the star of the snake.  The heads player places the penny heads side up.  The tails player places the penny tails side up.


The heads player tosses a coin.  If it is heads, he moves the penny one space toward the head of the snake.  If it is tails, he does not move but the tails player moves her coin one space toward the tail.


Next, the tails player tosses a coin.  If it is tails, she moves her penny one space toward the tail of the snake.  If it is heads, she does not move but the heads player moves his penny one space toward the head of the snake.

Play continues back and forth until one of the players reaches either the head or the tail of the snake, thereby winning the game.


The players post their results on the classroom tally, adding to the Heads Won or Tails Won count.  Players should play several games, if possible, to create a large sample which more closely approximates the actual probability.




Download the Heads & Tails game mat.