Make Math Sweeter with this Candy Math Game

It’s either math or english, right? Kids always pick one to dislike. Well, when it comes to learning core subjects and skills for life, I think making the learning fun (at least every so often) goes a LONG way for kids. Now you can make math a little sweeter with this Candy Math Game printable.

Candy Math Game Printable

This activity will work for any child who knows basic math operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). In fact, you can tailor this activity by having your child complete some or all of the columns. Plus I’ve included two versions of the game board, for kids who might get overwhelmed with too many options.

To play, you’ll need:

1. game board per student
2. a package (or two) of small colored candies. We used YumEarth Giggles and ChocoYums. But you could use Valentine Candy Hearts or M&Ms or Skittles.
3. a pencil (or whiteboard marker if you put the printable into a page protector.

Begin by sorting the candies by color. Write down the various colors in the first column next to the letters. Each color is now represented by a letter that will be used in future equations.

Total up all the candies. Tell the kids not to eat them just yet!

TIP: It might help some learners out if you ensure they have an even number of candies. Just eat one to make this happen! 🙂

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages, Oh My!

From here, students can work through the various columns using the numbers on their board. They’ll create fractions. Then convert those fractions to decimals. Finally, convert the decimals to percentages.

If your child hasn’t learned these concepts yet, just skip this part! You can play it again next year.

Multiplication and Mental Math

The last two columns have sets of equations. First some simple multiplication. If Red was represented by the letter A, and Green by the letter B, the student will multiply the number of red candies by the number of green candies to get a product.

The last column has extended mental math equations. You might need to support your learner with a number line for working with potential negative numbers. OR, you could rearrange the equation to avoid having a negative number.

Use PEMDAS where applicable. PEMDAS stands for the order of operations used in an equation.

P – parentheses (there are none on the board, but you COULD write some in for fun!)

E – exponents – there are none on this board

M – Multiplication – here’s where writing in those parentheses might have helped!

D – Division – this operation is not included in these equations, because it could create really complicated answers. Students would have practiced division when they converted fractions to decimals.

A – Addition

S – Subtraction

Math just got a little sweeter!

The students in my Classical Conversations Essentials class played this game the week before Valentine’s and really enjoyed wrestling with the equations on this Candy Math Game. Some said it was the “hardest game we’ve played all year!” (Those would be the ones who ended up with prime numbers! Most of them actually enjoyed the challenge!

You can decide whether to let your child eat the candies at the end as a treat. Or, they could eat one candy for every problem solved!

I love it when learning is fun… and sweet!

Download your FREE Candy Math Printable!

Enter your name and email in the form to download a copy of this Candy Math Game for your homeschool (or after school activity!).