Graphing Ice Cream Flavors

Materials

sidewalk chalk

Instructions

* Use sidewalk chalk to create a graph on playground blacktop. (Use large
graph paper or a large white plastic tablecloth if you are unable to write on
blacktop.)
What to Do
1. Ask each child what his favorite flavor of ice cream is. For their answers, have
each children draw or color a picture of the ice cream cone of his choice on a
4" x 4" piece of paper.
2. Before sorting and counting the different flavors, ask the class to predict how
many children might have chosen chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream
cones.
3. As a class, sort and count each flavor and explain how to find a total for each
flavor. Demonstrate on the blackboard or a large sheet of paper how to use a
graph.
4. Take the children outside and have them place beanbags in sections of the
graph to represent amounts.
5. Do this many times, so that all the children have a chance to participate. Then
serve an ice cream treat to the children.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
* On another day, sort different items that also interest the children.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
* Can the child make predictions?
* Does the child understand how to use a graph to translate totals?