Learning with Candy fun creative ways to teach

Well, much to my surprise the holiday season is already in full swing…. Ah what? Yes, this afternoon I walked into a girls’ clothing store shopping for my niece’s birthday present and heard Christmas music. Ah!!!! It’s only early November  and I still have bags of Halloween trick-or-treat candy around the house. The only thought that keeps running through my mind is “Wow-za I can’t believe we collected this much candy.”

Now I need a plan because; I don’t want the kids to eat it all. What is the quickest way to get rid of all this candy without the kids thinking that I don’t want them to have it? Ah ha! I need to create fun learning candy activities! The following is a list of at home ideas that are educationally sound and will help with the depletion of your candy supply.

Math: First, pour all your candy on the table and sort by kind of candy. Next, graph how many pieces you have of each kind. Last, with the graph data you can use Math terms (greater than >, less than < and equal to =, most, least)

Addition and subtraction activities: bag of Skittles+ bag of M&M’s=? Math vocabulary: sum, difference, addends, in all, altogether

Kit Kat bars: great activity for teaching your child to count by 2’s. Open the wrapper and use the two wafers to start counting 2, 4, 6, 8, 10…depending on the number collected you could eliminate pretty quickly.

Snickers miniatures: represent the shape of a cube (great geometry lesson) you can combine with Milky Way miniatures and play a game checkers.

Twizzlers: use to represent the science tool (measuring tape) since it bends. How many Twizzlers round is my waist? Yep, this one will take some time and a little creativity.

Twix bars: use to represent the science tool a (ruler). How many Twix bars long is my desk? How many Twix bars long is my pencil?

I’ve also included a list of “fun with candy or snack books” that you can check out from your local library or school Media Center.

Fraction skills: The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fractions Book by Jerry Pallotta Use one large Hershey Milk Chocolate bar (represents 1 whole) and break into pieces as you read-along. You and your child will explore learn all about fractions.

Counting skills: The M&M Brand Counting Book by Barbara McGrath

Math Riddles: Skittles Riddles Math by Barbara McGrath. Sit down open a bag and laugh with learning Math.

Art activities: teacher your little one the colors of the rainbow (Roy G Biv) using M&M’s or Skittles candies. Also you can design a school flag with your favorite collegiate team.

Bags of popcorn: The Popcorn Book by Tomie dePaola is a great family story.

Hershey Kisses: A Book of Kisses by: Laura Rader. Even though this book is not about the candy; it’s nice to have Hershey Kisses to snack on while reading with your child.

If all else fails, in order to promote good dental health. I’ve heard of local dentist offices paying money to children for turning in their bags of candy.

Happy Learning!!!