Core activity

Will our coins be on target?

To contribute to the national data collection, you and your class will...

  1. Construct or obtain 'Target 1' according to the national activity specifications.
  2. Place the target on the ground, and mark your throwing line(s) at a fixed distance(s) - 100 cm, 150 cm and/or 200 cm - from the long edge.
  3. Take turns throwing a coin(s) towards the target, aiming for the "bullseye" at the centre of the page. Record where each coin lands (as area "A", "B", etc. or "off the paper").
    (You could use the data record sheet in the printable information pack).
  4. Submit your data summary online, or give it to your pre-school or school coordinator of Reach for the Stars for submission to the national data set. (Schools which lodged data through the website before 10 pm AEST on Friday 5 September were in the running to win some great prizes).

A summary of the national results is now available.

For teaching ideas, explore the pages for pre-school, junior primary, middle primary, upper primary and secondary school.

Some notes

  • Count each coin as landing in the area in which most of it lies when it stops moving.
  • Throw the coin from behind the line - the thrower can stand, sit, crouch etc. but should not be in contact with the ground (or anything else!) anywhere closer to the target than the throwing line.
  • Each group can collect results throwing from one or more distances from the target. Results from different distances should be collected separately.
  • Classes wanting to extend their investigations can also share data collected using Target 2.

(Further details are available on the Practicalities and 'Rules' page).