TITLE:     M&M MATH

AUTHOR:    Martha Adams, Jefferson Elem., Everett, WA

GRADE LEVEL:     1-6

OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE:  This is a fun math activity using M&M
cookies that are prepared ahead by the teacher or that the
students plan for and make the day before.  Students munch
their way through the cookie keeping a tally of how many
M&M's  are found in each color.  Then a teacher designed
math worksheet is completed that reviews any math concepts
desired.  I enjoy this activity around Halloween calling the
cookies M&M Monster Cookies.

OBJECTIVES:  The students will:

1.  Plan and make the M&M cookies.
2.  Tally M&M's by color while eating cookie.
3.  Complete worksheet using math skills.

RESOURCES:
M&M Cookies (recipe below); teacher designed worksheet


                   M&M Monster Cookies*

1 c. butter                     l 1/2 t. vanilla
2 1/4 c. peanut butter          3 t. soda
2 c. sugar                      9 c. uncooked rolled oats
2 1/4 c. packed brown sugar     4 c. M&M candies
6 eggs
1 1/2 t. light corn syrup

Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and
fluffy.  Add eggs;  beat well.  Stir in corn syrup, vanilla,
and soda.  Add rolled oats and M&M candies; mix thoroughly.
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at
350 degrees for about 12 minutes.
YIELD:  about 10 dozen     NOTE:  The recipe requires no
flour.

* For a class of 30, I use 1/2 this recipe and make each
cookie   about TWO TABLESPOONFULS in size yielding just
under 3 dozen    cookies.   The baking time will need to be
slightly longer   for the larger size cookie.   Adding more
M&M candies before   baking increases the fun of the math
activity.

ACTIVITIES:
1.  Plan with students for cookie making.  Ingredients,
utensils, and cooking source need to be planned for.

2.  Make and bake cookies.

3.  Give each student a cookie and a worksheet.  The
worksheet should be designed based on skill level of child.
For young students, a tally and simple addition may  be
sufficient.  Examples for older students:
        ____# red  x  236 =  ________
     14,695 - 9,675 = _______ x _____# brown =______
        500 : _____# yellow = _________
          432.1 x ____# green= ________

4.  The last activity on the worksheet is to add the answers
to all problems to determine who has the "Most Valuable"
cookie, the "Least Valuable" and for older students a class
"Average Value" could be determined.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  This is a fun activity to review
math skills. Math extensions are almost limitless and could
include student made problems, story problems, etc.   Other
extensions include writing descriptive words or paragraphs
about the cookie, writing cookie conversations, writing
stories about the cookie, personification of the cookie,
etc.