The kids loved making M&M graphs this week! I simply divided a paper into six sections and had Emma create a graph of M&Ms in the various colors. We talked about which colors we had the most and fewest M&Ms in, and counted the M&Ms in each column. Emma loved this activity (especially the part at the end where she got to eat some M&Ms), and is asking to do it again as I type.
Johnny looks so innocently attentive in the top photo that I had to add this second picture, which is a much more accurate representation of his involvement in this activity. I was amazed that Emma had the self-control to not eat any M&Ms until the end, especially when her brother was gobbling them up as quickly as possible.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Great idea! Easy, cheap, fun, and tasty all in one activity!
Yum! What a great activity! Abby would love to do that. Of course, she'd probably eat all of them.
@LiEr – kids are odd creatures, aren't they? Emma's very methodical and likes to follow the instructions; Johnny is more like your Jenna I think. I think it's funny that Emily grouped hers and then just left them there at the end!
@Ally – My kids would love an M&M book like that, eating them at the end would be my favorite part too!
Elijah would love that, looks like Emma and Johnny had fun. We have a M&M book that gets you to sort the colors and make shapes and count the M&Ms, its really neat. Elijah's fav part is eating them when he is done. =)
Hi there! Can you tell I'm slowly catching up with commenting (as usual)? I just wanted to tell you the girls and I did this two days ago, and Jenna (almost 3 yrs old) said, "I don't want to put them on a chart. I want to eat them" and did. At least she was honest. Emily put all her MnMs in little groups instead of rows, then left them there and went off to play. Children are odd sometimes. It is such a great idea that I plan to do it again when they are less hungry/distracted. Thank you for the idea!
I love M&M graphing!–more than just learning, it's yummy too:-).
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@Valerie – Great idea, to do this with ages! Emma's really into asking where the numbers for people's ages are on a measuring tape right now – of course, that only works for people 60 and under…
That is so funny!! I did something similar to this with Emily where we graphed ages of everyone in the family. She couldn't believe how LONG grandpop's line was!! :-)
The look really pretty… and tempting!
Love the 'truth in photography'! Cute pictures – looks like a fun activity.
I've read that self-control such as Emma displayed is an excellent indicator of future success! (I think it was in a book on Emotional Intelligence.)
thanks! what a great idea! Noah would love this
Now this is graphing I can really get in to!
yummy Mm's (as my kids call them). I love M&M graphing.