Creator: Dan Meyer | visit site
Grade Range: 4 - 8
Dandy Candies provides open-ended practice and exploration with problem solving and measurement skills, grouped into three "Acts." View a short animated video exploring different options for packaging candy. Then solve four questions about the best way to pack candy. Act Three offers solutions along with a link to all packaging options. Click on the Prologue to view links to standards. Be sure to click on Teacher Notes to view more information on the different steps.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site (and video clip) on your interactive whiteboard or projector during units on measurement, volume, and perimeter. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. Have students make concrete representations of candy and packaging to demonstrate responses. Before solving this activity, create a quick poll using Survey Anyplace, <a href="/single.cfm?id=17563">reviewed here</a>, to see how much students know. Extend the challenge by having students write packaging/measurement challenges for their classmates to solve, perhaps for a product they especially like!
At Home
Share Dandy Candies with your preteen or teen as a fun activity to practice problem solving and measurement skills at home. Work alongside your student to see if you can find the most efficient method for packing candy.
Tags
volume, perimeter, area, measurement, problem solving,