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Candy Colors: Figuring the Mean, Median, and Mode


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Students worked hard all week? Do they deserve a special reward for a job well done? This activity will offer students a nice break from structured learning. Adapt it to fit your needs. Have some Friday Fun!

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This is a nice activity for any time of year. It seems especially fitting around Halloween or Valentine's Day when stores are full of colorful candy.

Provide each student with a package of colorful candy. Valentine candy hearts, gummy bears, M&Ms, Skittles, Neccos, or LifeSavers will work well for this activity. Provide commercially sold candy packs or buy large quantities of candy and create your own small packs.

Challenge students to work on their own, in pairs, in small groups, in larger groups and, finally, as a whole class to figure mean, median, and mode of collections of candy data. They fill in the data they collect on the Counting Candy Colors work sheet.

You might begin this lesson by modeling the process students will use to calculate and record mean, median, and mode for their candy. Click the link below for additional ideas and extension activities.

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Candy Colors: Figuring the Mean, Median, and Mode
Education World (January 2, 2003)

Find links to more Friday Fun activity ideas in our Friday Fun archive.

Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World

07/21/2006