Halloween Math Activity: Candy Graphing

The holiday season can be the perfect time to incorporate creative, hands-on math activities for students. Students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade can benefit from active learning with a holiday theme, when distraction levels are high, especially on days when a holiday class party is scheduled. One fun, but educational math activity, Candy Graphing, is a sure hit with students during the Halloween season.

Candy Graphing Math Activity Goals

Students who participate in the Candy Graphing math activity will be able to sort, count, and add various multiples of candy pieces, and show the results in a basic graph. Students in lower elementary school grades will focus on sorting and counting, while older students will be able to independently graph the results.

Supplies

-An assortment of small candies or snack sized candy bars
-Graph paper
-Crayons or markers
-Lunch sized paper bags

Math Activity Directions

1. Students are assigned to groups of 3-4 students
2. Pass out listed supplies
3. Explain directions, providing an example of steps to follow to the class
4. Pass out lunch bags filled with approximately 20-25 pieces of various candies
5. Have students sort candies into groups based on specific similarities
(example: chocolates, gum, hard candies, red candies, etc...)
Note: Older students may be asked to create their own categories
6. Have students count number of candies in each designated category
7. Students should then create a basic graph of the results of the candy sorting and counting
8. Ask each group to present their candy graph findings
9. Discuss the sorting process with the class
10. Place candies back in the paper bags and ask each group member to select a designated number of candies to keep

Younger students may need extra help with creating a candy graph. Creating a large, visual candy graph example for students to refer to during the candy graphing activity is suggested. Older students may be asked to complete additional math activites, such as computing percentages, division, or multiplication exercises.

Alternative Candy Graphing for Halloween Math