Graphing with M&Ms!

With the state tests coming up, my fourth graders were needing a little overview of graphing. They have been doing a lot of test prep in their classrooms and were in desperate need of a pick-me up. Cue the M&Ms! We are supposed to be trying to be more healthy at my school, so I don't use candy too often.  This was an extra special treat!

I started by separating the M&Ms into individual baggies for each student in my intervention group. For this group, I wanted to go through the activity together, so I gave each student the same assortment of M&Ms.

Students began by sorting the M&Ms by color and recording the amounts in the data table. We created the bar graph first. We made sure to add a title and identified the labels for our x- and y-axes. Then, we choose our scale for the graph and filled in the data. For our second graph, we completed the line plot. Once again, we made sure to add our title and labels. Then, we plotted our data. We completed the pie graph last. This required some reasoning to create the correct sized sections.

After completing the graphs, we identified the mean, median, mode, and range using our data table. (I chose to focus on the amounts - ex. 4, 6, 7, instead of the colors themselves.) Since there are six M&M colors, there are an even amount of numbers. You could remove a color to make an odd amount if your students are not ready for finding the mean of data with an even amount of numbers.

Then we answered four questions about the data. With the first two questions, I wanted to make sure my students understood more than just how to find mean, median, mode, and range. I wanted them to explain what exactly the concepts stood for. The last two questions focus on analyzing the data.

If you would like a copy of this activity, click here, or on the images above. Do you have any fun ways you review graphing with your students?

Also be sure to check out this great giveaway I am participating in, hosted my blogging buddy Jivey!