Sampling Distribution Activity for AP Statistics (or lower) -German Tank Problem

This is a fun way for your statistics class to kick-off a unit on sampling distributions (and ultimately the Central Limit Theorem). It also connects math to history. During World War 2, the Germans put serial numbers on all their tanks. These serial numbers were in numerical order. When the allies found these tanks, their statisticians were able to predict how many tanks the Germans were producing. Your students will recreate this activity and so be set up for a discussion of sampling distributions. This activity includes fun components and what you need to get going. There is a pretend top secret letter from General Eisenhower (including a duplication of his actual signature). There are also pictures of German tanks with numerically ordered serial numbers ready to be printed and cut out (a total of 352). Have students randomly pull out a few of these slips of paper (tanks) from a bowl and use the serial numbers to predict how many tanks are in that bowl. Tips, notes, and a brief historical background is included. This is a fun real world activity for your statistics class.