Candy Graphs

Curriculum area: Mathematics

Objective: Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them (NCTM data collection standard for grades K-12)

Technology skill level: Moderate

Student grouping: Whole Class

Materials:

• Spreadsheet program (Appleworks or Microsoft Excel) or a graphing program (the Graph Club, Tom Snyder Productions)
• Chart Paper
• Computer
• Projector or scan converter and television

Procedure:

1. In a large group setting, brainstorm with your students their favorite types of candy. Designate a recorder to write the list on chart paper.
2. Break students into groups of four or five. Give students about 15 minutes to sort the brainstormed list of candy into categories. For example, Hershey Bar falls into the candy bar group.
3. At the end of the 15 minutes, have each group tell the class the different categories they came up with as you record them on chart paper.
4. Cross off any duplicated items and choose five category names from those listed.
5. Have each member of the class vote on a favorite candy.
6. Using a spreadsheet or graphing program, graph the results with the whole class.
7. Display the results using a projector or television with a scan converter.

As an extension, have students survey their families and friends about their favorite candy, and then graph the results in class.

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