Chippewa
Valley Schools Learning Activity
TITLE: M & M Madness
CURRICULUM: Math, Language Arts
(Click here to see a preview.)
GRADE LEVEL: Kindergarten
PURPOSE: The students will work with the mathematics unit of collection, organization, and presentation of data. In this lesson the students will be using Valentine M & M’s and The Graph Club to sort and graph the various colored M & M’s. (The students can use this same format for graphing other seasonal or unit items.)
CVS STANDARDS/BENCHMARKS:
MATHEMATICS
III.1 Collection, Organization & Presentation of Data: Collect and explore data, organize data into a useful form, and develop skill in representing and reading data displayed in different formats.
q III.1.2 Organize data using concrete objects, pictures, and graphs.
III. 3 Inference and Prediction: Draw defensible inferences about unknown outcomes, make predictions, and identify the degree of confidence they have in their predictions.
q III.3.2 Conduct surveys, samplings and experiments to solve problems and answer questions of interest to them.
LANGUAGE ARTS
I.1 Read with Comprehension: Students will read and comprehend a variety of literature.
q I.1.10 Begin to understand how the characteristics of various types of literature (genre) and story elements can be used to convey ideas and perspectives.
NETS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
1.1 Basic Operations and Concepts: Use input devices and output devices to successfully operate computers.
3.9 Technology and Productivity Tools: Use technology resources for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.
DESCRIPTION:
After the students have had an introduction to The Graph Club the students can open the template for graphing Valentine M & M’s. The students will predict how many of each color they will have if they sort a handful of M & M’s. Then the students will open the template and graph the M & M’s. (In this lesson we are doing it as a group project. If the students are familiar with the program they could do it as a center, in small groups, or independently.) After filling in the information the students will type their name and print their document.
PREPARATION:
The students will need an introduction to The Graph Club and how items can be graphed in the Explore menu. You will need to prepare a graph template in advance for the students to use. The directions are described below. You will need to provide students with the M & M’s that they will be sorting. You will need to decide if you will be having the students print in color or black and white. (This will effect the settings you use for the bar and circle graphs.
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ACTIVITIES |
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Getting Started with the Students 1. You may want to introduce the lesson to the students by reading a book with an M & M, Valentine, or Math theme. 2. Next the students will need to open The Graph Club program. 3.
The students will need to select Explore and Open. 4. The students will need to go to the drop down menu and locate I: drive. 5. The students should then find the template and click on it and then click on Open. (The template for the Valentine M and M’s is called MMValentine.) (You will also see MMPastel for Easter and MMTraditional for the normal M&M candies.) Filling in the Data1. Have the students begin by making predictions of how many M & M’s might there be if you grabbed a handful. (Make sure you do not grab more than 10 M & M’s of each color. I prepare a handful before starting.) 2. After the students have made their predictions about the amount, question the students as to whether they think there will be an equal amount of red, pink, and white M & M’s. 3. After you have gathered all of the predictions, begin taking M & M’s from the handful and having the students graph the color. 4. The students will need to click on the appropriate Icon at the top of the page and drag it to the correct column. (The students must hold down their left click until they are in the right column. If the students make a mistake, they click on the extra picture and it will delete. ) If you have the sound on, it will count for the students. Continue pulling M & M’s from the handful until all of the M & M’s are graphed. 5. Once the picture graph is complete, ask the students to share information about the graph they have created. Question the students about what color M & M had the most or least. How many more or less red M & M’s were there than white? Sharing the Various Graphs 1.
After completing the picture graph, have the students click
on the bottom of the page icons to see the table, picture graph, bar graph,
line graph, and circle graph. 2. Discuss with the students how each of these graphs differ in look but share the same information. Writing About the Graph and Printing Graphs 1. From the menu bar, have the students go to File/Print Graphs. A menu will appear where the students can choose the type of graph they would like to print. I would recommend having the students choose two so they can make comparisons between the two. 2. Next the students will need to click in the box for Title. The students can then type in a title for their graph. (This is a good place to type the student name.) 3. Last, you can choose the size you wish to have the students print. Your choices are Normal, Big Book, or Poster. I usually have the students print in Normal and I will print a teacher copy in Poster to display in the classroom. 4. Finally, the students can select Print. 5. If you would like to choose a printer to print to, click on Setup. 6.
Creating the Graph Template 1. If you would like to create your own template, follow the directions listed below. a. Begin by creating your M & M in Publisher or copying a picture you have scanned to Word. You will need to copy this picture so that it can be pasted later. b. Open The Graph Club. Go to the menu that says Explore and click Ok. This will open a regular picture graph. You can close the bar graph that is adjacent to it. c. Next go to the menu bar and click on Graph/Choose Symbols… A menu will appear and at the bottom left you will see Paste from Clipboard. Click on this button and your picture will appear. d. Drag it from the bottom of the screen to the Icon Bin at the top. Repeat these steps for each color of M & M. e. Next choose a pattern for each Icon. These will be used if you print bar and circle graphs in black and white. f. Next you will want to click OK. This will return you to your graph. You will now see the Icons at the top of the page. g. On the bottom of the screen you will see the word What? Click on this word so that you can label the bottom of the graph. I choose “Valentine M & M’s”. h. Next you will need to save this to the I: drive. Put it in the Student folder so the students will have access to opening it. |
From here, you can choose the Specific
Printer.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES:
You may want to check out this site for more activities that involve collection, organization and presentation of data.
http://www.svsu.edu/mathsci-center/Maser%20Math/dataanalysis.html#III1EL
Books:
M & M Brand Chocolate Candies Counting Book by: Barbara Barbieri McGrath
ASSESSMENT:
The students will be able to write two or more sentences stating what their graph is showing. The students will also be able to name the different graphs that are represented in the program (table, picture, bar, line, and circle.)
CREDITS:
This lesson was created by:
Angela Miller
Instructional Technology Consultant
Chippewa Valley Schools
19120 Cass Avenue
Clinton Twp., MI 48038
COMMENTS:
Kindergarten teachers from Cheyenne piloted this lesson using Jelly Beans. The lesson can be done the same way and there is a template for Jelly Beans in the I: drive. This same lesson could be adapted for Original M & M’s or any other color and season where graphing is appropriate for instruction. Also keep in mind that you can create other Icons such as hearts or shapes when graphing other types of candy or cereal. You can repeat this lesson for graphing animals groups in the science curriculum. Students could bring in stuffed animals and then sort them into different animal groups.
PREREQUISITES:
See preparation. The students will need some experience using the graph club and reading graphs. You will need to decide on what you will be graphing so a template can be made ahead of time. If you need assistance creating the template please call and I can help you set one up.