This content created by Andrea Mulder-Slater

The Great Chocolate Experience II

M&M® Math

Introduction:
Students will explore fun-size bags of M&M®'s to determine packaging patterns with regard to number and region of the United States.

Materials:
Small packages (fun-size) of M&M®'s. One for each child. The bag size is 14.0 oz. and contains small individual packages of M&M®'s (approx. 16-18 individual packages in a bag). Make sure you purchase plain, not peanut.

Key Question:
Are all bags of M&M®'s alike in number and color? Background Information:
Fun-size bags of M&M®'s all contain six colors with dark brown the most common color. Though variations occur, they are slight enough to allow generalizations with regard to total number in bag and frequency and infrequency of different color groups. In 1995, M&M/Mars® replaced the light brown M&M® with the blue M&M®.

Management:

1. Each student should be given a small individual package of M&M®'s and a set of student worksheets.
2. Students should make their predictions and the computation before opening their bags. Students will record their estimates in the "E" column of the graph (the graph is a companian worksheet). Smaller students may use crayons or markers to record their estimates.
3. When recording their "actual" data, students should divide their M&M®'s by color groups, counting each color and recording their findings. Students should then add to find the total number in the bag, then count to check their answer.
4. Discuss the difference between their predictions and their actual findings.

Procedure:

1. Pass out bags of M&M®'s and have students predict the number of each color. DO NOT OPEN BAG. Record estimate data.
   
2. Have students open bags, count and record their actual data.
   
3. Have students complete worksheet.
   
4. Be certain that the students know what each of the symbols mean on the worksheets (the worksheets are companion materials):

B represents Blue colored M&M®'s
DB represents Dark Brown colored M&M®'s
G represents Green colored M&M®'
O represents Orange colored M&M®'s
Y represents Yellow colored M&M®'s
R represents Red colored M&M®'s
> means greater than
< means less than
= means equal to
B + DB = means the number of Blue colored M&M®'s plus the number of Dark Brown colored M&M®'s equals ___________.

What the students will do?:

1. Students will predict how many M&M®'s are in each bag.
2. The students will perform the operations of addition, subtraction, and division.
3. The students will classify, group and record the data.
4. Students will write a short report about their bag of M&M®'s.
5. Students will have fun, learn some important math & science skills and enjoy CHOCOLATE!!!!