Junk Food Math
Sharon Ross DeWitt Clinton School
6110 N. Fairfield
Chicago, Illinois 60659
312-508-4025
Objective:
The main objective of this miniteach is to teach 3rd through 4th grade students
estimation and introduce percentage.
Materials:
For each student:
- one zip-lock bag containing 75 randomly chosen Skittles candies and 5 small
paper cups
- classroom set of centimeter grids for graphing results
- worksheet prescribed with a circle in which 75 Skittles can be placed
- worksheet with directions
- box of 8 crayons
Recommended Strategy:
. Distribute zip-lock bags containing Skittles and paper cups.
. Take out paper cups.
. Estimate amount of each color Skittles.
. Record estimated numbers.
. Count all Skittles and record total.
. Place Skittles by color into paper cups.
. Count Skittles by color and record actual amount of each color.
. Compare sets of candies by color using the less than, greater than, and equal
signs.
. On centimeter grid, list colors along horizontal axis.
. On centimeter grid, list numbers from 0 to 25 along vertical axis.
. With corresponding color crayon, color bar graphs to represent the number of
each color candy found in the sample.
. Use formula:
Color Number X 100 , to calculate the percent of each color.
Total Number
. On prescribed circle worksheet, form a pie-shaped wedge out of the predominant
color.
. Next to the preceding wedge, form another pie-shaped wedge out of the next
most frequently occurring color.
. Continue making pie-shaped wedges until all colors are used and the circle
is filled.
. Label each pie slice with the percentage number which it represents.
. The "Junk Food Pie" may then either be eaten by the student or the pieces
may be glued to the paper to keep a permanent record of the results.
Return to Mathematics Index