Lesson Plan #: AELP-EDT0202
What Color are Your Skittles?
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Submitted by: Ellyn Bewes
Email:
EBewes@oles.dade.k12.fl.us
School/University/Affiliation: Opa-locka
Elementary School, Opa-locka, Florida
Date: July 27, 2001
Grade Level: 5, 6
Subject(s):
- Computer Science
- Mathematics/Process Skills
Duration: 4 class sessions
Description: Students enter data into a spreadsheet to create a pie
graph showing the percentage of colors found in a bag of Skittles.
Goals: Students will create and manipulate spreadsheets and graphs.
Objectives:
- Students will create a spreadsheet to chart the different colors found in a package of Skittles.
- Students will collect data, create appropriate charts, and use percentages to describe quantities.
Materials:- 1 package of Skittles for each student
- computers with Microsoft Excel / access to the Internet
- floppy disks
- index cards
- What Color are Your Skittles? - Instruction Sheet
Instruction Sheet in .pdf format; requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click the icon to obtain the free Reader.
Procedure:
(Depending on class size and computer availability, teachers may choose to have students work individually or in pairs.)
Begin the lesson by distributing a bag of Skittles to each student, along with an index card. Have students look at their package of Skittles. Ask students, "How many different colors of Skittles are there? What percentage of each color do you think is in your bag?" Have students write their predictions on their index cards. "Now open your package of Skittles and tally the amounts of the different colors of Skittles." (Students can write the colors and numbers on the back of their index cards.)
After the results have been tallied, hand out an instruction sheet to each
student. The instruction sheet provides step-by-step directions for creating
a graph using Microsoft Excel. Students should be able to follow the instructions with minimal help, but the teacher should circulate around the room to answer students' questions. (The teacher can also encourage students to ask each other for help if the teacher is busy assisting another student.) When students have completed their graphs, they should print out a copy of their work. Students can compare their results to their earlier predictions.
Extension:Have students go to the Skittles web site (listed below) to find out what percentage of each color is supposed to be in a package of Skittles -- to see if their pie charts and percentages are similar to those advertised on the web. Assessment: Collect students' completed work to check for accuracy.
Useful Internet Resource:
* Skittles Homepage
http://www.skittles.com
Special Comments: This activity can also be done with M&M’s or any other material with multi-colors… colors in fruit loops, etc. My children really enjoyed completing this lesson and then eating their Skittles.