#  >> K-12 >> K-12 Basics

How to Do Proportions With Skittles

A proportion is defined as the relationship between two or more things based on size, quantity or number. Proportions commonly have a mathematical component, and the method for calculating a proportion is frequently taught as a grade school lesson. One popular teaching method uses bags of Skittles, which are colorful candy drops, to provide a hands-on lesson, comparing the amount of each color in relation to the total number of candies in each bag.

Things You'll Need

  • Skittles
  • Glass bowl
  • Colored markers
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a bag of Skittles from your local grocery store and pour the candy into a glass bowl.

    • 2

      Count the total number of Skittles and write the information on the paper. Then count and document the number of each individual color, creating separate piles for each.

    • 3

      Calculate and document the proportion of each individual color by dividing the number of the color by the total number of Skittles. For example, if there are 100 Skittles in the bag, and 35 are red, divide 35 by 100 to learn that the red Skittles make up 35 percent, or approximately one-third of the bag.

    • 4

      Draw a circle to make a pie chart, then document the proportions of each color in comparison to the whole bag. For example, if you find that the green Skittles make up 25 percent of the bag, use a green marker to create a piece of pie that takes up one-quarter of the circle. Repeat for all the colors. The end result will show you the proportion of each color.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved