Download Starburst Sorting

Starburst Sorting
By Sacsha Harrison and Amy Gibbs
Rationale: Your kindergarten students will be able to sort, organize, and
display Starburst color data. The class will create a pictograph and use the
data to investigate probability.
Mathematical Topics Addressed:
Counting
Colors
More or Less
Probability
Collecting Information
Sorting
Show Me Standards:
Goal 1.8 organize information and ideas into useful forms (including
charts, graphs, and outlines) for analysis or presentation
MA.3 data analysis, probability and statistics
Prerequisite Skills:
Counting to ten
One-to-one correspondence
Colors
Understanding concepts of more or less (< >)
Probability concepts of most likely and least likely
Materials/Handouts Needed:
2 Bags of Starbursts
Starburst Graph
Crayons or markers
Individual cups for students
Procedures:
Step 1: Before class begins place 5 red, 3 yellow, 1 pink and 4 orange
Starburst into an individual cup for each child.
Step 2: After introducing lesson, give each student a cup of Starburst
and have them sort according to color.
Step 3: Once sorted, pass out graphs. Tell students that we are going
to graph their Starburst according to color.
Step 4: As a class, complete graphs together. Since Starburst amounts
were predetermined, each graph should look the same.
Step 5: Interpret and analyze completed graph. Some sample
questions:
 Are there more yellow or pink Starburst?
 What color Starburst do we have the most of?
 Which color Starburst do we have the fewest of?
 How many fewer yellow do we have than orange?
Step 6: From one graph combine all Starbursts into a bag. Remind
students to keep the data in mind and ask the following probability
questions:
1. If I pull one Starburst out, then what color will it most likely be?
2. If I pull one Starburst out, then what color is it least likely to be?
3. Do I have a better chance in pulling out a red or a yellow?
Assessments: Visually and orally assess while completing graph.
 Do students have their colors in the corresponding columns?
 Do students have the correct number of boxes colored in each
column?
 Did students answer graph interpretation questions correctly?
.
Extensions: This activity could be done in the spring, on St. Patrick’s Day,
or with a color unit.
Starburst Graph