In class today we brought in packets of m&m's and counted out the amount of different colours in a pack. Then we plotted the data in an excel file.
Instructions were to:
Graph how many M&M's of different colours there are in a packet by using mircosoft excel.
If not enough computers are available in a class setting it is possible to use a big chart at the front of the room for the same activity.
Greg told a storyof one prep teacher who devised an exercise getting kids to count how many icy poles were sold at he school canteen over a 1 year period. Kids entered the data into an excel spreadsheet and were asked to make predictions on why sales were down in winter and why they were up in the summer months.
I thought this was an excellent activity that encompassed a lot of subject areas including ICT, maths, humanities etc. Given the opportunity I will certainly use this in the classroom as a tool in a range of subject areas.

www.abc.net.au/dustechoes - is a great website for childrens Aboriginal stories


