Description

This activity is an exciting way to introduce place value. The students will enthusiastically use colored M & M's to determine the different categories of place value.

Materials

-Ziploc Plastic Sandwich Baggies
-Multi Colored M & M’s
-Small Aqua Dots (Cut out same size as an M & M)
-Color Coded Place Value Key (See Attached File)
-Teacher Made M & M’s for class display (See Attached File)
-Tape
-Activity Sheet (See Attached File)
-Answer Key (See Attached File)
-Place Value Line Activity Sheet (See Attached File)
-Transparency of Place Value Line (See Attached File)
-Overhead Machine
-Overhead Pen
-Pencils

Procedures

1. Begin by placing a small baggie of M & M's with a Color Coded Place Value Key (See Attached File) on each student’s desk. While the teacher is distributing the baggies remind the students that they are not allowed to touch the baggie.

2. Once the baggies are distributed ask “Raise your hand quietly if you knew that M & M’s can help you learn about the value of numbers?" Hear any answers the students have to offer.

3. Explain to the students that today we are going to learn the different place values that numbers can hold while eating M & M’s!

4. Explain the value of each colored M & M with in the baggie.

5. At the same time place transparency on overhead.

6. Students take out their color coded Place Value Keys out of their baggie and place it on their desk.

7. Discuss the key. At the front of the room model each color M & M with its corresponding place value. Example: Red M & M represents the Hundreds place value.

8. Model colored M & M’s for class display (See Attached File) in the order of the place value line.

9. Students lay the M & M’s in the correct order of place value. Example Blue-Thousands, Green- Hundreds, Purple-Tens, Yellow-Ones, aqua dot, Brown-tenths, Red-hundredths, Pink-thousandths.

10. Circulate around the room to ensure that students are correctly placing their M & M’s in the place value line.

11. After students are finished making an M & M place value line correctly, distribute blank place value line activity sheets and as a class fill in category names within the text boxes.

12. Present to the class the written number 2.63 on the overhead. By placing 2 Yellow M & M's in the ones column, 6 Brown M & M's in the tenths, and 3 Red in the Hundreths. Ask “Can anyone answer by quietly raising their hand what place value the 6 is in?”

13. Complete as many examples as needed for comfort level to be reached before begining independent practice.

14. Don’t forget to use the M & M line to see what color and place value the number represents. Ask guiding questions such as "If I have 3 Purple M & M's, 1 Yellow M & M, and 2 Brown M & M's, 4 Red M & M's what would be the written number represented by the colored M & M's?" Complete as many examples as needed for comfort level to be reached before begining independent practice.

15. Distribute activity sheets.

16. Read over directions and share with students that they will have 10 minutes to complete their activity sheet.

17. Ensure the students they are completing the same process as in practice examples.

18. Encourage students to refer to the M & M place value line to find the correct place value category.

19. Teacher will collect activity sheets after 10 minutes for formative assessment.

21. Provide students with formative feedback.

Extensions

1. An extension for this lesson might be to pass out category titles to individual students (including decimals, numbers smaller than hundredths and larger than thousands) to create a human place value number line.