Problem: Take a bag of M&M's and figure out the fraction and percent of each color.  Use the information to create a circle graph representing the percent of each color.  Explain your results.

Math Topic/Concept: Collect and Organize Data

Materials: Bags of M&M's for students

Classroom Use: (Developmental)

Grade: 4/5

Grade Cluster: (LateElem)

Illinois Goal: 10

Standard: 10A2d, 10B2b, 10B2d

Applied? (1-4): 3

Source: www.isbe.state.il.us/ils/benchmarking/mathactivities.htm#LE

Answer: Varies according to the colors represented in each bag.  I performed the task as I wrote the problem.  Blue 30%, Yellow 30%, Brown 20%, Orange 10%, Green 5%, and Red 5%

Strategies Listed: Fractions, Percents, Graphing, Organizing Data

Solution: I included a delicious example for purposes of filling this space with some information.  I took a bag of peanut M&M=s and opened them to count how many total pieces there were and organized them into groups based on colors.  There was 6 blue, 6 yellow, 4 brown, 2 orange, 1 green, and 1 red.  I created fractions for each color, for example, 6/20 blue, 6/20 yellow, 4/20 brown, etc.  I reduced my fractions to lowest terms and converted them into percents and took that information and placed it accordingly into the circle graph.
 
 

James R. Olsen, Western Illinois University
E-mail: jr-olsen@wiu.edu
updated August 16, 2001