A Web Quest on Probability, Graphing and Writing

By Marlo Kach

Introduction
We all love M&M candies.  The famous advertisement, “M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your hands” is very true.  Have you ever thought about why people like certain M&M colors over others?  What makes each one different?  Do all bags of M&M’s have an equal amount of each color?  Did you know the M&M company actually makes 21 different M&M colors?
 

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Task
You will be working with a partner to conduct some experiments about the color of M&M candies. Together you will be completing a series of activities related to probability, graphing, and writing.  Lastly, you will work cooperatively to write a persuasive e-mail convincing the makers of M&M candies to create a new color or produce more of a certain color that already exists.
 

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Resources

Use these sites to assist you with your activities:

• How to use The Graph Club
• Graphing Challenge website
• One school involved in a similar project
• Data bank results from schools participating in M&M 2000 project Click on results.
• M&M color chart
• E-mail the M&M company

Use these sites to assist you in leading the M&M webquest project:

• Learn more about The Graph Club
• Information to join the M&M online collaborative internet project
• M&M’s baking recipes

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Process

1.  First you will be paired with another classmate.

2. You and your partner will complete the M&M probability activity.  Click here for the directions.

3. Using a marker, both you and your partner will add your results to the class M&M probability
    activity poster.  (Your teacher will submit the class results to the online KIDLINK project.)

4. Create a graph using The Graph Club to show your own findings.  You and your partner should
    assist each other with the graphs.

5.  In your own math journal, explain one of the following:

• the results of your findings
• the current results of the class findings

 

How many M&Ms where in the bag?

How many of each color where there?

What color was the most popular?

What color was the least popular?

How accurate was your estimate?

What other relevant information do you think should be included?

6. Visit the following websites with your partner to see similar M&M activities in other classes
    around the country.  Also, visit the color chart to see the 21 colors of M&Ms.

•  One school involved in a similar project
•  Data bank results from schools participating in M&M 2000 project Click on results.

1. With your partner, decide whether to write an e-mail letter convincing the makers of M&M candies to create either a new color or to produce more of a certain color that already exists.
2. Write one rough draft letter, show it to your teacher and make any necessary corrections.
3. Visit the M&M feedback website to type and send your email.  (Remember to type only your first names and include your teacher’s e-mail address, not your own.)

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the following rubrics:

• Creating a Graph
• Writing a Persuasive Letter

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Conclusion

Congratulations on a job well done!  You and your partner have participated in several activities that show how data is collected and what changes may need to be made.  The next time you open a bag of M&M’s, see if the color you wrote in your persuasion letter is the most popular.
 

Note to the Teacher

This Webquest is designed for second and third grades.  It can always be adapted to fit the needs of your students.  When working with the primary age children, a parent volunteer or teacher assistant may be necessary to aid the students through the steps.  In addition, the students should already be familiar with The Graph Club software.
 

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