&
s
Unit

This
mini unit is being created to be used along with the introduction of the
letter M to my kindergarteners. I'm going to try and use SRA Reading
Mastery with them and I wanted to incorporate a mini unit for each letter
introduced that would allow cross-curricular instruction in reading,
writing, and math. I think M&Ms will lend themselves well to this.
We'll see. :)
As always, make sure that none of your students have peanut allergies
before using either plain or peanut M&Ms.

Mmmmm .....
that's what your tummy says when you eat M&Ms and that's what the Letter M
says, too! (rub your hand around in circles on your tummy as you say this)
Books

The M&Ms Counting
Book - Barbara McGrath
The M&Ms Count to 100
Book - Barbara McGrath
More M&Ms Brand
Chocolate Candies Math - Barbara McGrath
The M&Ms Subtraction
Book - Barbara McGrath
The M&Ms 4th of July
Parade - Barbara McGrath
The M&Ms Addition
Book - Barbara McGrath
M&Ms Count Around the
Circle - Barbara McGrath
The M&Ms Brand Easter
Egg Hunt - Barbara McGrath
M&M
Word Wall Words

round |
circle |
red |
blue |
green |
yellow |
brown |
orange |
inside |
outside |
sweet |
candy |
bag |
chocolate |
hard |
Mmmm ...
Game:
Download and
print these game cards onto cardstock. Laminate. Cut out M&Ms.
If the picture begins with /m/, students cover it with an M&M with an
“m”. If it doesn’t begin with /m/, they cover it with an M&M without an
“m”. If you prefer, you can not print the M&M cards and use real
M&Ms instead.
M&Ms
Mmmmm ... Game
(This is another
large file .. so make sure you get it now in case I have to remove it
later! It can't be emailed!!!)
Alphabet Matching:
Print the alphabet M&Ms on cardstock, laminate and cut out. Have
students match the capital letter to the lowercase by clipping them
together front to back with a clothespin. This activity will be
great for both letter identification and strengthening fine motor grips.
Or, you could put velcro dots on the back of the M&Ms instead.
M&M Alphabet Matching
Letter Match: This is a paper/pencil
follow-up activity for the hands-on activity above. Our Ks are
required to complete paper/pencil 9 wk assessments, so this is something
they have to be able to do. I'm providing different variations, for
different needs.
Letter Match 1
Letter Match SRA
Letter Match 2
Letter Discrimination: Print these sheets
that cover
writing their name, /m/ sound, position word "below", letter
discrimination of letter Mm,
color identification, writing Mm, "big", and following directions!
Letter
M printable 1
Letter M printable 2
Letter M printable 3
(Because everyone uses different kinds of fonts in
their classroom, I chose not to add Mm to the printing line on this page.
I would suggest that you add them by hand using a fine-tipped Sharpie marker
before copying for your class.)
Sorting Mat:
Print this mat
onto cardstock, laminate and cut out. Have student sort picture
cards onto the mat that begin with /m/. If needed, picture cards can
be found on the
Literacy Connections page with Mr. Munchy Mouth.
M&M
/m/ Sorting Mat
M&Ms ... Mmmm emergent reader:
Print and make
one copy of the book for each student. Students color the M&M on
each page to match the text. At the end of the book they fill in the
blank with the color word of their favorite color M&M. (use a color
word chart for them to copy from or have them dictate their favorite
color) You can also enlarge the text and create your own Big Book on
1/4 sheets of posterboard. You can find binding instructions
here.
M&Ms ...
Mmmm emergent reader
Counting:
Print this activity on cardstock, laminate and cut
out. Have students count M&Ms and match to number cards.
M&M Counting Activity
1- 10
11 - 20
Counting
Mats:
Print the counting mats and cards onto cardstock,
laminate and cut out. Have students choose a card and count that
many M&Ms onto their counting mat, then have someone check for accuracy.
When finished, clear their mat and choose another card and start again!
M&M Counting Mats
Counting
Sheets:
Print the follow-up paper/pencil counting sheets for
the hands-on activities above. (At this time I have 1-5 only)
Each sheet progresses a little harder in difficulty.
M&M Counting Sheet 1 (1 - 5)
M&M Counting Sheet 2 (1 - 5)
M&M Counting Sheet 3 (1 - 5)
M&M Counting Sheet 4 (1 - 5)
Writing:
Use the
Thematic Word Wall words to draw and write about M&Ms.

|
 |
 |
 |
blue |
outside red |
ilcchoclate |
MM is green |
Colorful Bingo:
Create Bingo
cards using colored circles & label circles with "M&M" using a Sharpie or
stickers (or you can create them on the computer). Students will use
M&Ms as markers to cover squares as you call out the colors. [Don't
forget to create colors cards to use for calling!]
For more advanced
students, create cards with color words instead of colors. You can
still use the circles & M&M labels, just don't use colored circles and put
color words on them instead.
Counting:
Create a big
M&M card and label it with a number. Then have students count out
that many M&Ms to match the card.
Create cards for
numbers 0 - 10.
Estimation:
Have each student
estimate how many M&Ms are in a bag or small jar. Chart their estimations.
Then open the the bag/jar and count the M&Ms. Anyone who came up with
the actual number of M&Ms, gets the candy! :)
Graphing:
Give each student a bag of M&Ms and have them graph the M&Ms in their bag
according to color. (At the beginning of the year, you might want to
do this as a group instead of individually with kindergarteners)
Discuss which color had more, less, the same, what is this graph about?
Sorting:
Have each student sort their bag of M&Ms by color. You can provide
them with a sorting mat with the appropriate number of circles needed (1
circle per color) with the color word if appropriate. OR, one
teacher prefers to have her students line the items up into rows and then
asks questions like "which has more, less, the same, etc."
Patterning:
Use the M&Ms to create patterns (red, yellow, red, yellow ... red, yellow,
green, red, yellow, green, etc.)
Nonstandard
Measurement:
Use M&Ms to measure smaller objects in the classroom such as a pencil,
paper clip, stapler, sheet of paper, etc. Provide a recording sheet
for students to write down answers. (Do this whole group for
beginning of the year kindergarteners)
M&Ms
Numbers & More Game:
A commercial game licensed by M&Ms for preK-2nd with number
recognition activities and early math skills.
Compare/Contrast:
Give each student a sample of both a plain and a peanut M&M. Compare and
contrast plain M&Ms with peanut M&Ms using a Venn diagram.
Culminating
Activity: Make
M&M cookies. YUM! Use as a following directions, language, and
measurement activity. Serve with milk and discuss volume! ;)
Links

Free M&M graphics for
printables
http://www.tickledpinkgraphics.com
M&M Addition Cards
printables
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/RainbowMMadditionCards.htm
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