Data Analysis With Smarties

Mathematics has never been so delicious.
Students love Smartie Math.
The project uses the Nestle candy coated chocolates called 'Smarties' which are marketed in small boxes with a range of 9 to 15 smarties per box.
The project seeks to answer the guiding question, "How does an understanding of statistics help us interpret data?" This project can be done with one class or several. At the school I teach in, a group of ten teachers teach it simultaneously so we can share data. This offers an excellent opportunity to examine sample sizes as well as provides the data to create stem and leaf plots for each color of Smarties. Stem and leaf plots are excellent graphic organizers to use to teach students to find central tendencies. The data from the stem and leaf plot is then used to create box and whisker graphs.
In addition, students learn and practice format conversions.
Data can be graphed using either pictographs, bar graphs, circle graphs or box and whisker graphs.
Calculators are encouraged as the emphasis is on skill sequencing.
Alternate pages to the suggested booklet are included so that you can enrich or modify individual students booklets as required. Examples of enrichment activities include finding standard deviation to verify accuracy of central tendencies and using smartie data to write algebraic equations and solve them.
I have been counting smarties for over ten years and this is definitely the math project students love and look forward to!
I have presented this project at middle school conferences at the provincial level and it has been a hit.
So spark up your math class and challenge your middle school students, 'So you think you're a Smartie!'
Included is
Unit Plan
Scope and Sequence for 4 Days
Project Booklet 6 pages
Rubric
Alternate Pages for Booklet for Differentiation
Instructions on Finding Central Tendencies
Instructions on Finding Sector Measurements for Circle Graphs
Instructions on Drawing Stem and Leaf Plots
Instructions on Creating Box and Whisker Graphs
Questions for Conclusion
Cumulative Tally Chart for Teachers
Cumulative Tally Chart for School
Instructions for Finding Variance and Standard Deviation
Black Line Master for Finding Variance and Standard Deviation
Smartie Algebra