Ask the children to wash their hands before beginning the math instruction, if you intend to offer the candy corn as a treat after the lesson. This keeps the candy clean and sanitary for consumption.
Place a napkin and a paper plate in front of each child. Give them each about 10 pieces of candy corn to set on their napkins.
Instruct the children to count out three pieces of candy corn and add them to their paper plates. Explain this is addition and an important part of math.
Ask the students to remove one piece of candy corn and to place it on the napkin beside the paper plates. Instruct them to count the candy corn that remains. Tell them, "This is how you add candy corn and then subtract it." Explain that "three candy corns minus one equals two." Repeat the game several times using different amounts, until they are skilled in addition and subtraction. Ask them to empty their paper plates after each game.
Instruct the students to place two pieces of candy corn on their plates. Tell them "This is how you multiply two times three." Ask them to place four more pieces of candy corn on the paper plate in sets of two. Point out that there are two pieces of candy corn in three separate piles. Ask them to count the total number of candy corns on their plates without moving them from the separate piles. Tell them, "This is how you multiply: two pieces of candy corn times three separate piles equals six." Try the game with different figures, such as three times four until they grasp the concept of multiplication. The multiplication step is more appropriate for third and fourth grade students.