Grab It and Graph It!

What’s the best graph to use for the information you need?

Data and Graphing Activity with M&M’s

CATHY JONESMath Instruction SpecialistCenter for Mathematics and Science EducationArkansas NASA Education Resource Center346 N. West Avenue, Room 202Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701PH:(479) 575-3875 FAX:(479) 575-5680E-mail: cej001@uark.eduWeb: cmase.uark.eduWiki: cmasemath.pbwiki.com

Compiled & Presented by:

Questions to Investigate

Can you predict the total number of M&Ms in your bag?

Can you predict the number of each color? Can you compare your prediction to the

actual amounts?– What type of data needs to be

collected?– How will the data be collected and

organized?

Data and Graphing Activity with M&M’s

M&M part 1COUNTING M&Ms

• First estimate the total and predict how many M&Ms of each color are inside the bag.

• Record your predictions in the table provided.

• Is the total prediction logical? Are the predictions for the individual colors reasonable? Do the totals match?

• Then open your bag and find your actual total and how many you have of each color. Record your results on the same table.

Individual M&M Data Recording Sheet

COLORS PREDICTION ACTUAL

RED    

ORANGE    

BLUE    

YELLOW    

GREEN    

BROWN    

ACTUAL TOTAL    

ESTIMATED TOTAL    

Name: ______________________________________

M&M part 2Creating a Graph

__________

____________

__________

__________

Identify the graphs shown here.We will use each of these to record the data of the ACTUAL number of M & M’s.

__________

#1 #2

#3

#4

#5

Name: ______________________________________

Creating a Graph

PictoGraph

LinePlot

ScatterPlot

Bar Graph

Identify the graphs shown here.We will use each of these to record the

data of the ACTUAL number of M & M’s.

Circle Graph

#1 #2

#3

#4

#5

Name: ______________________________________

PictoGraph Student Worksheet

Name: ______________________________________

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

Grab It & Graph It PictoGraph

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

Grab It & Graph It PictoGraph

Bar Graph Student Worksheet

Name: ______________________________________

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Grab It & Graph It Bar Graph

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Grab It & Graph It Bar Graph

LinePlot Student WorksheetName: ______________________________________

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Grab It & Graph It LinePlot

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Grab It & Graph It LinePlot

Scatter Plot Student WorksheetName: ______________________________________

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Scatter Plot Grab It & Graph It

blue

yellow

brown

red

green

orange

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15024 25 26 27 282322212019181716 29 3130

Scatter Plot Grab It & Graph It

Circle Graph Student Worksheet

Name: ______________________________________

blue ______ ______

yellow ______ ______

brown ______ ______

red ______ ______

green ______ ______

orange ______ ______

Circle Graph Grab It & Graph It

blue ______ ______

yellow ______ ______

brown ______ ______

red ______ ______

green ______ ______

orange ______ ______

Circle Graph Grab It & Graph It

blue ______ ______

yellow ______ ______

brown ______ ______

red ______ ______

green ______ ______

orange ______ ______

What are the major differences among these graphs?

• What are the advantages or disadvantages of the different type graphs?

Extension: Class M&M Data Recording Sheet

COLORS PREDICTION ACTUAL

RED    

ORANGE    

BLUE    

YELLOW    

GREEN    

BROWN    

ACTUAL TOTAL    

ESTIMATED TOTAL