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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in a Graph?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
How many yellow Skittles® come in a fun-size package? Use candy color data to construct a bar graph and a pie chart. Pupils analyze bar graphs of real-life data on the Texas and Massachusetts populations. As an assessment at the end of...
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Lesson Plan
Statistics Education Web

Population Parameter with M-and-M's

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Manufacturers' claims may or may not be accurate, so proceed with caution. Here pupils use statistics to investigate the M&M's company's claim about the percentage of each color of candy in their packaging. Through the activity,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sweet Data

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students input data about the colors of their serving of M&M candies onto a spreadsheet. They create charts and graphs based on this information.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build A Skittles Graph

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore graphing. In this graphing lesson, students sort Skittles candies and use the color groups to create a bar graph. Rubrics and extension activities are provided.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Favorite Candy Bar Graph

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students decide on six different types of candy bars to include in a data collection activity. Working in small groups, they survey a target group in a set amount of time. They access a Internet based graphing tool to create a bar graph...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Counting Candies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students count, sort, and classify jellybeans by color. They use their data to create a bar graph. Students are given a small bag of jellybeans, and a worksheet on Counting Candies Tally Chart. They work in small groups. Students are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Candy Color Caper

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the concept of probability. They calculate the probability of an event happening and graph their results. Students determine the probability of winning a sweepstakes. They construct a bar graph to represent all the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Skittles Graph

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Learners construct a bar graph with a given set of data. They calculate the ratio and percent of the data. Students discuss alternate ways of graphing the data as well as multiple strategies to approach the task.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sweethearts and Data Analysis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept collecting and representing data. In this collecting and representing data lesson, students record the different colors of sweetheart candies in their sweethearts box. Middle schoolers create a table...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Statistics of Mars

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore the concept of central tendencies. In this central tendencies lesson, students sort M&M's or Skittles based on color. Students graph their results. Students find the mean, median, and mode of their data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Rock Candy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe the growth of rock candy. In this crystal growth lesson, students make rock candy and measure the crystal growth over five days.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Spreadsheets and Graphs

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore mathematics by utilizing computers. In this graphing lesson plan, 3rd graders gather class data based on a particular topic such as the "favorite candy" of the class. Students utilize this information and computers...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Numbers Tell the Story

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Young scholars demonstrate how to gather and interpret statistical data. In this data analysis lesson, students search for statistics on the health effects of smoking and place the information into charts. Young scholars create these...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Collect Data Using a Transect Line

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners learn about transect lines through a study of marine debris.  In this marine debris lesson, students calculate the items on a transect line and graph them.  Learners complete a category worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
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American Statistical Association

A Sweet Task

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Candy is always an effective motivator! A fun math activity uses M&M's and Skittles to explore two-way frequency tables and conditional probability. The candy can serve a dual purpose as manipulatives and experimental data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Candy is Dandy

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate color distribution in bags of M&Ms They sort and classify the contents of a bag of M&Ms and summarize their findings on a worksheet. Students convert the numbers into charts and make predictions about color...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

M & Ms in a Bag

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make predictions about the number and colors of M&M's in a snack size package. They create an Excel spreadsheet to record the data from their small group's bag, create a graph of the data, and discuss the variations of data...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taste the Rainbow

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students practice estimating and graphing by utilizing Skittles.  In this statistics instructional activity, students complete worksheets based on the likelihood of a certain color of skittle coming out of the bag.  Students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Algebra: Sorting, Representing, and Patterns

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students sort objects and create patterns. In this sorting and graphing lesson, students work at centers to find a way to sort a group of objects, then make a graphical representation of the number of each item. Finally, students create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cartesian Coordinates

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students investigate rational numbers through data analysis and statistics. For this algebra lesson, students represent, rename, compare and order rational numbers. They collect and represent data correctly on a graph.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

M & M Candy: I Want Green

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use colored candy pieces (such as M & M's) to compare mathematical expectations and experimental probability. They pick pieces of candy randomly, and graph their results. This classic activity never fails to engage...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Dating

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Simulate C-14 decay using M&M and Reese's Pieces candies. In this scatter-plot lesson, students perform an experiment to simulate the half life of C-14. Information is plotted on a scatter-plot. Students answer four comprehension...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inherited Traits

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students work with a partner to complete an inventory of their traits and compare and discuss their unique qualities. In this biology lesson, students determine percentages for the frequency of observed traits of classmates, compile the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hide and Survive: A Natural Selection Activity

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explore the theory of natural selection given certain scenarios. In this biology activity, students graph data taken from the experiment. They explain the factors that contribute to the survival of the fittest.