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In this lesson, students learn the benefits of using different kinds of graphs to communicate information, answer questions, and solve problems as they investigate color distribution in bags of M&M's. Working with actual bags of candy, students sort and classify contents, learn to use formulas in a Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet, summarize their findings on a worksheet, convert the numbers into charts, and make predictions about color distribution in other bags of candy. On This PageLesson plan information|
School level | | Curriculum areas | | • | Language arts | | • | Mathematics |
| Class time | | Software required | | • | Microsoft Office Word | | • | Microsoft Office Excel | | • | Microsoft Office PowerPoint |
| Optional software | | • | Microsoft Internet Explorer | | • | Microsoft Works |
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Teacher guideGoals| • | Students will be introduced to the concept of graphing as a way to communicate information. |
Objectives| • | Students will work in pairs to record color distribution in a spreadsheet format. | | • | Students will use formulas in an Office Excel spreadsheet. | | • | Students will convert the spreadsheet information into several kinds of charts. | | • | Students will utilize information obtained through hands-on research and analysis to predict distributions and write a research report. |
Lesson procedureIntroducionNot all information is the same. To communicate different kinds of information effectively, we need to graph the information in different kinds of charts. Some data collections are better represented by bar charts, for example, while others may be easier to interpret as line charts or pie charts. It is important to select a chart type that gets the message across in the most effective way. There are no sure-fire rules that determine which chart type to select for a particular data set, but there are helpful guidelines. For example, bar charts allow for a comparison of values within a category, line charts emphasize a progression of change, and pie charts show the relationship of a part to the whole. In this lesson you will learn how to use charts to communicate information effectively by conducting market research about M&M's. First, you will sort and classify the contents of several bags of M&M's by color, using bags with different weights. Next you will record the number of candies for each color and summarize your findings on a worksheet created in Office Excel. Then you will convert the numbers into several kinds of charts and make predictions about color distribution in other bags of candy. You will analyze your data and present your process and results in a written report. Main activityStep 1: Color distribution| • | Software: Microsoft Office Word | | • | What to do Work in pairs to gather data from several small-sized bags of M&M's or from two larger-sized bags 1. | Before opening any bag of candy, make a few guesses about the colors you expect to find. Ask yourself: | • | Do bags of equal weight have an identical number of candies? | | • | Are all colors represented equally, or are some more popular than others? | | • | Does color distribution remain constant, no matter how small or large the bag? |
| 2. | Record your answers in a Word document and save it for later reference. |
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Step 2: Create a worksheet| • | Software: Microsoft Office Excel | | • | What to do Create an Office Excel spreadsheet with the data you have gathered 1. | Open a worksheet in Excel. In cell A1, type the title "Candy Is Dandy!" | 2. | In row 3, beginning in cell A3, type the following headings: | • | Colors | | • | Bag 1 | | • | Bag 2 | | • | Bag 3 | | • | Bag 4 | | • | Average |
| 3. | Type in the weight of the bags of M&M's in a comment. Here's how: Click inside cell B3. On the Insert menu, choose Comment. Then, type the weight in the yellow pop-up box. Now, any time you move your cursor over that cell, the weight of the bag will appear. 
Cell notes pop-up box in an Excel spreadsheet
| 4. | In column A, beginning in cell A4, list all of the colors of M&M's you found in your bags. | 5. | Sort the list alphabetically. Here’s how: Highlight the cells in Column A. On the Data menu, choose Sort. Type "Total" in the cell below your last entry. | 6. | Now, you can format your worksheet in a variety of ways. On the Format menu, choose AutoFormat and select the format of your choice. |
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Step 3: Add formulas| • | Software: Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel | | • | What to do Add formulas to your spreadsheet 1. | Enter the number of same-color M&M's in the corresponding cells, beginning with Bag 1. Use the AutoSum function to total your columns. Highlight cells B10:E10.On the Edit menu, choose Fill, and then choose Right. | 2. | Now you can automatically calculate the average number of each color per bag. Click inside cell F4, then type the formula =average(B4:E4). Highlight cells F4:F10. On the Edit menu, choose Fill, and then choose Down. In the Average column, format cells so that a whole number (that is, no decimal places) is returned by using the Decrease Decimal button on the Formatting toolbar. | 3. | Interpret your data. Answer these questions: | • | Are some colors more numerous? | | • | Do all bags have the same number of candies? | | • | Compare your observations with the findings of students in other groups. Are the same colors more numerous from one group to another? | | • | Is color distribution consistent in bags of differing weights? |
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Step 4: Create graphs| • | Software: Microsoft Office Excel | | • | What to do Create two charts and add your data 1. | Use the Chart Wizard in Excel to produce at least two different charts. | 2. | Choose the chart types that best represent the data, such as a bar chart or a column chart. For example, you might choose to chart the distribution of colors in a single bag or the total number of candies for all bags in your sample. | 3. | Highlight cells A3:E9. On the Insert menu, choose Chart. Click the Column chart type, and then click Next. Click the DataRange tab, and be sure Columns is selected next to Series In, and then click Next. In step 3 of the wizard (Chart Options), click the Titles tab. Add titles for the chart and its axes. Click the Gridlines tab, and experiment with gridline options. Choose a gridline that makes it easier to understand the data. Click the Legend tab, choose a location for the legend, and then click Next. | 4. | Use Excel to place the chart as an object on the original worksheet you created (with your guesses about color distribution), so that worksheet entries are visible as you examine the chart. |
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Step 5: Writing the report| • | Software: Microsoft Office Word | | • | What to do Analyze your data and use Word to write up your report In your report, do the following: 1. | Describe: | • | The research project | | • | The procedures you used to sort and count the candies | | • | What the data reveals about candy colors and color distribution |
| 2. | Compare your initial hypotheses about the average number of candies per bag (in Step 1) and the expected color distribution with actual survey results. Copy and paste spreadsheet and chart data into Word where appropriate. | 3. | Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of representing data in spreadsheet tables, column charts, bar graphs, or pie charts. For example: | • | When is it best to use one chart type instead of another? | | • | What is the value of using more than one bag of candy to conduct this experiment? | | • | What is the value of using bags with different weights? |
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ConclusionYou can assess the students on: | • | The accuracy of their data collection | | • | The successful completion of a spreadsheet that includes formulas | | • | Their ability to work and problem solve collaboratively | | • | Their demonstrated understanding of the uses of different charts | | • | The thoroughness and effectiveness of their final report |
Lesson extension activities| • | After the lesson, encourage students to use Internet Explorer to visit the M&M's Web page and take a virtual tour of the factory. They can send electronic mail to the company, indicating which colors they like best, which colors they would like to see more of, and which new colors they would like to see in future bags of candies. | | • | Encourage older students to summarize their research findings in a letter to the Consumer Affairs Department, M&M/Mars, 800 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840-1503. Students can use the Microsoft Word Letter Wizard to get started. |
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