Skittles Math

Math Monday

Skittles...it's the rainbow that works well with graphing, creating patterns, estimating, and analyzing data in the early elementary grades as well as multiplying, dividing, and fractions for upper elementary grades.

For this K/1st grade Skittles Math lesson, give each student an individually wrapped mini-pack of Skittles candy. Worksheets may be found at Teach by Heart.

The lesson focuses on sorting, counting, and graphing and works with these Math Standards noted by Minnesota Department of Education:

Strand: Number and Operations
Standard: Understand the relationship between quantities and whole numbers up to 31 includes:

• K.1.1.2 Read, write, and represent whole numbers from 0 to at least 31. Representations may include numerals, pictures, real objects and picture graphs, spoken words, and manipulatives such as connecting cubes.  
• K.1.1.3 Count, with and withK.1.1.4 Find a number that is 1 more or 1 less than a given number.
• Understand the relationship between quantities and whole numbers up to 31. 
• K.1.1.5 Compare and order whole numbers, with and without objects, from 0 to 20.   out objects, forward and backward to at least 20.

Standard: Use objects and pictures to represent situations involving combining and separating.

• K.1.2.1 Use objects and draw pictures to find the sums and differences of numbers between 0 and 10.
• K.1.2.2 Compose and decompose numbers up to 10 with objects and pictures.   

Standard: Recognize, create, complete, and extend patterns.

• K.2.1.1 Identify, create, complete, and extend simple patterns using shape, color, size, number, sounds and movements. Patterns may be repeating, growing or shrinking such as ABB, ABB, ABB or ●,●●,●●●. 

The K/1st Skittles Math lesson asks students to estimate how many Skittles they have then count to see if their prediction was correct. They can make a color pattern. Next, using tallies they show how many of each color they have. Students then put the tallies in number form. They make a bar graph showing how many Skittles of each color they have. Next, the number concepts are reinforced by completing fill in the blank sentences. Most and least concepts are practiced as they note which color had the most or less Skittles. They check in with their classmates to find out which of their color Skittles they had the most of then chart the data. Rather than print out the worksheets, this work could be done in a Math Journal.

                                

Additional resources include this children's book written by Barbara Barbieri McGrath:

Skittles Riddles Math         

Here is a lesson for multiplication work in upper Elementary grades from Middle School Shenanigans and it works with the following Minnesota Department of Education standards for Grade 3:

Strand: Number and Operations

Standard: Add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers; represent multiplication and division in various ways; solve real world and mathematical problems using arithmetic.

• 3.1.2.3 Represent multiplication facts by using a variety of approaches, such as repeated addition, equal-sized groups, arrays, area models, equal jumps on a number line and skip counting. Represent division facts by using a variety of approaches, such as repeated subtraction, equal sharing and forming equal groups. Recognize the relationship between multiplication and division.
• 3.1.2.4 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving multiplication and division, including both "how many in each group" and "how many groups" division problems. 

This grade 3 Skittles Math lesson asks students to estimate then count the Skittles they have noting how many they have of each color. Students then multiply the number of green Skittle times the number of red Skittles they have.... Again, rather than print out worksheets this could be done in Math Journals. Extensions include making a bar graph showing the color and amount of Skittles for each. 

Middle School Shenanigans Multiplication

Thank you for visiting, Tricia