What are some different ways we can show data? The 4^th graders practiced making different types of graphs and calculated percents in this activity. We learned a lot about graphs and data…and we got to eat our M&M’s!

First, each student had to decide which color M&M was their favorite: orange, blue, green, brown, yellow, or red. They colored in their M&M character, and as a class we created a pictograph. A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to represent data.

Key: 1 M&M is equal to 1 vote.

Then students were challenged to estimate how many of each color M&M’s were inside the bag. The students then opened the bag and filled in their data chart with the actual number of each color M&M’s. The students figured out the total number of M&M’s in the bag and figured out the fraction for each color. Then we used division to find the percent of M&M’s that were specific colors. We compared our percents to the data on the official M&M website that tells what percent of M&M’s are produced in various colors.

Data from www.m-ms.com

After all that calculating, it was time to make our pie chart, or circle graph. The students arranged their M&M’s by color around the circle graph and then divided up the graph accordingly. After completing the circle graph, students used numbers from their data chart to create a bar graph.

The 4^th graders did a great job using different types of graphs to show their data!

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