Gold Seal Lesson:
Comparing M&M Colors

Copernicus Education Gateway

 

Subject:

Mathematics

Grade:

 

 

5-8

 

 

ICLE Standards:

 

 

Statistics: Collect, organize and describe data. Construct, read and interpret tables, charts and graphs.

 

 

Performance Task:

 

 

For this activity you are to work in groups of three students. Each group is given a bag of M&M candies. Your task is to compare the different color M&Ms in your bag and to make a graphic display of the contents of your bag of candies. Complete each of the following tasks and put your work on the accompanying data sheet.

Task 1: Identify the colors of M&Ms in your bag, count the number of each color, and make entries in the appropriate columns on the data sheet. Find the total number of M&Ms your group has.

Task 2: Find the percentage of each color and enter in the appropriate column on the data sheet.

Task 3: Display the data on a separate sheet of paper using two different types of graphs of your choice. Use graph paper if needed. Be sure to draw your graphs neatly and accurately. Label each graph with a suitable title.

Task 4: Analyze your data sheet and graphs and write at least four conclusions that you can make from the study of your M&M package.

Task 5: Pretend that you are the teacher and you want to find out if students can read and interpret a graph. Make a “quiz” containing at least five questions that you could ask about your graphs.

Task 6: Display your data sheet and graphs on the bulletin board. Label with your group name. After all the groups have put their work on the bulletin board, answer the following questions.

  1. Which group(s) had the most green?
  2. Which group(s) which had at least one red, had the least number of red?
  3. Which group(s), if any, had the same number of yellow as blue?
  4. Did any group(s) have the same number of each color? If yes, which group(s) was it?
  5. Which group had the least variation in the number of each color? the most variation?

 

 

Knowledge / Skills:

 

 

Perform operations with signed (positive and negative) numbers, including decimals, ratios, percents, and fraction. (m1)

Understand the best procedures for statistical data collection, organization, and display. (m5)

 

 

Rubric:

 

 

4 Points = The group completes all of the tasks with little, if any, assistance from the teacher. Students’ work is accurate, neat and nicely organized. They understand the concept of percent, being able to find the percent of a number. The students know how to construct and analyze graphs from collected data. The students work well as a group with all students participating. All work is of highest quality.

 

 

3 Points = The group completes most of the tasks with some, but not a lot, of assistance from the teacher. Students’ work is fairly neat and well organized, but some minor errors occur in their work. They need assistance in understanding the concept of percent. The students have a fairly good knowledge of how to construct graphs, but need some help in analyzing them. The students work well as a group although one or two members seem to do most of the work. All work is of good quality.

 

 

2 Points = The group completes most of the tasks, but needs considerable help in doing so. The work is not very neat or legible and lacks good organization. Several errors, some major, are present in their work. The group does not have much understanding of percent. The students needed considerable direction in constructing the minimum number of two graphs. The analysis of the data and graphs was poor. They have difficulty applying their knowledge in a real situation. The students worked more as individuals rather than as a team. Work is only at a minimum quality level.

 

 

1 Point = Even with considerable assistance, the students do not complete many of the tasks. Their work is poorly presented, unorganized and illegible for the most part. The students demonstrate a lack of all major skills required to complete the tasks. The students did not work cooperatively as a team. Final product is at an unsatisfactory performance level.

 

 


Task 3: Graphs — Do on a separate sheet of paper. Use graph paper if necessary.

Task 4: Conclusions

  1. _____________________________________________________________________

  2. _____________________________________________________________________

  3. _____________________________________________________________________

  4. _____________________________________________________________________

Task 5: Quiz Questions

  1. _____________________________________________________________________

  2. _____________________________________________________________________

  3. _____________________________________________________________________

  4. _____________________________________________________________________

  5. _____________________________________________________________________

Task 6: Comparison of Groups

  1. _________________________

  2. _________________________

  3. _________________________

  4. _________________________

  5.  _________________________

 

 

Keywords:

 

 

GEOMETRY
TERM WORK STATISTICS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA COLLECTION
GRAPHS
INFERENCE
PROBLEM SOLVING
TABLES
DATA DISPLAY
COMPUTATION

 

 

Grades:

 

 

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [x] - 6 [x] - 7 [x] - 8 [x] - 9 [] - 10 [] - 11 [] - 12 []

 

 

ICLE Application:

 

 

D

 

 

 

 

 

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