M & M Math

Objective: Students will use M&M’s as manipulatives for sorting, counting, adding, and graphing.

Anticipatory Set: Raise your hand if you like candy. Raise your hand if you like M&M’s.

Materials

• data sheet
• number chart
• M&M’s
• large M&M’s for graph

Procedure

• Explain and demonstrate to the students what they will be doing with the M&M’s.
• First estimate how many are in the bag and write that number on the sheet.
• Second, count the candy using the number charts to help.
• start with 1 not 0
• Third, write the number you actually had.
• Fourth, sort candy into color groups and write the number of each color on the sheet.
• Fifth, put colors together and count the number (adding).

• After the students are finished have them place their favorite color of M&M on the class graph showing the class how many like each color.

Reflection: The students did well with sorting the M&M’s and counting. Most wanted to change their estimations. When the students had to combine colors to add they got confused. What I would have done is show them how to add the two colors by using large M&M manipulatives on the board instead of just showing them one example. Also, less M&M’s could have been put in the bag.

Overall, the lesson went well and the students loved eating the candy.