🍂 Engage your students in a fall-themed statistics adventure!
The Corn Maze Challenge is a in a fall-themed statistics adventure that combines realistic mini-story problems with core random variable concepts in a fun, seasonal format. Students calculate means, standard deviations, expected values, and probabilities as they navigate a 12-problem corn maze of statistics challenges.

Each problem produces a 3-digit “code” that students use to determine which way to go next in the maze. The majority of the incorrect codes are based off of common student mistakes with this content and serve as distractors. Students work through discrete, continuous, and normal distribution problems — all in a printable, class-ready format.

✨ What’s Included

• 🌽 12 Original Corn-Themed Random Variable Story Problems
  
  • Expected value & cost/benefit problems
  • Mean & Standard deviation of discrete random variables
  • Linear transformations
  • Combining independent random variables (sums, differences, and scaling)
  • Normal distributions and realistic scenarios (profits, weights, times)
    

• 💡 Teacher Edition with complete step-by-step solutions
  
• 🧩 Game-Style “Code” Element for self-check
  
• 🍁 Seasonal Context — engaging, “corny” fall theme perfect for October or November
  

🧑‍🎓 Student Directions

1. Start at the “START” box on the maze.
2. Solve the problem written in that box number.
3. Convert your answer to a 3-digit code using the directions at the end of each problem.
4. Follow the path labeled with that code. Continue until you reach “FINISH.”
5. If you reach a dead end, re-check your work.

🧑‍🏫 Teacher Directions

• Print student version of maze single-sided; print recording sheet double- sided; print the 12 challenging questions double-sided and stapled.
  
• Each problem yields a code by following a specific multiplication/rounding rule stated at the end of each problem.

• No pre-computed numerical choices/routes are shown on the maze for a few of the last problems. Students must fill those in!
  
• Codes can be used as a self-check
  
• Students practice conceptual reasoning, pulling the necessary information from the problem with critical reading skills!
  

💬 Skills Covered

• Expected value of a discrete random variable
  
• Standard deviation and variance relationships
  
• Linear transformations of random variables

• Sum of scaled independent random variables
  
• Combining independent normal distributions

• Combining independent discrete random variables
  
• Probability from normal curves
  
  

🧩 Differentiation & Extensions

• Include hint cards or formula reminders for scaffolding
  
• Extension option: write their own “Corn Maze” story question
  
• Fast finisher challenge: estimate total code value or error-check with a partner
  

🕐 Estimated Timing

• Core activity: 40–55 minutes (individual or paired)
  
• Review & discussion: 10–15 minutes
  

🎯 Standards Alignment

• AP Statistics Unit 4: Random Variables, Probability, Normal Distributions
  
• Common Core HS.S-MD.4, HS.S-MD.5

✅ Licensing & Terms of Use

This resource is for personal classroom use only. Each purchase grants one license for use by a single teacher.

• ☑️ You may use this resource with your own students in your classroom.
• ❌ You may not share, copy, or redistribute this resource with other teachers, on the open web, or to an entire school/district. You may not post this product (in part or full) on the internet in any form, including classroom/personal websites or district servers, even if password protected.
• ➕ If colleagues would like to use this resource, please purchase additional licenses at a discount through TPT’s “Buy Multiple Licenses” option.

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Students need practice with Random Variables. Pair this activity with:

• Harvest Festival Probability Task Cards: Entire Unit 4 Review
• "Falling Leaves" Random Variables & Probability Review - Unit 4 of CED
• Probability Popcorn & Autumn Harvest Circuit Mini Bundle | CED Unit 4

🧡 All activities are no-prep, print-and-go, and align perfectly with AP Stats Unit 4: Probability.

Please visit "Statistically Significant Math by Malatlian" to view my other activities!