Fun with Math and M & M Cookies
By: Emily Atchley
Adapted from: M & M Math, by Martha Adams; www.ofcn.org
Objective: The purpose of this activity is to use M & M cookies in order to exercise basic
arithmetic skills. This activity can be easily modified to meet the needs of any elementary
classroom.
Appropriate for: Grades 1-5
Materials: M & M cookies (prepared in advance)
M & M Math worksheet
Procedure: To begin, each child is given a worksheet, and the teacher carefully reviews
instructions before passing out the cookies. Then, each child is instructed to count the number of
each color M & M as well as the total number of M & M’s, recording these numbers in the
appropriate worksheet space. The data is then used to determine problems on the lower half of
the worksheet. Finally, the students are allowed to eat the cookies as a reward for a job well
done!
Special note: A creative idea for the older students is to give each color of M & M a "value" and
let each student determine the "worth" of his or her cookie. You can compare as a class, and even
find the class average for "cookie value".
Example Worksheet
M & M Math
Count and record:
number of red M & M's :
number of blue M & M's :
number of yellow M & M's :
number of brown M & M's :
number of green M & M's :
number of orange M & M's:
total number of M & M's :
Practice your math with the following problems:
1) number of red
2) number of green
3) number of yellow
+ number of blue
+ number of brown
+ number of orange
4) number of brown
5) total number
6) total number
+ number of red
- number of green
- number of yellow
7) total number
8) total number
9) total number
10) number of orange
- number of brown
- number of blue
- number of red
+ number of green