What do you think is inside?
This activity will help your child explore the idea that an outer shell hides what is underneath. Take some time with your child to explore different cultures and colors of skin and then use the M&Ms to show that what is on the outside is just a shell and on the inside, we are all the same.
📚 Books to explore: Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin; Colors of Us by Karen Katz; and Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs.
🍬 A delicious learning experience: When you’re all done, the children can enjoy a yummy treat!
🔢 Count your findings: You can also have your child sort and count the M&M’s before eating them all.
Materials
For this activity you will need:
M&M’s
Cutting board
Knife (for adult use only)
Learning Outcomes
Domain
Cognitive
Skills
Reasoning logically
Indicators:
Making logical connections
Instructions
Step 1:
Pick our 4-5 different colored M&Ms. Have your child predict what they think will be on the inside of the different candies.
Step 2:
Cut open the M&Ms and speak with your child and show how they’re all the same.
Step 3:
Explain how this is the same for people with different skin colors.
🦺 Stay safe! Only an adult should handle the knife.
⬆️ For older preschoolers: Have your child choose the M&M colors and predict what will be on the inside.
⬇️ For younger toddlers: Keep it simple and just use one or two M&M’s.
Playful Questions
What do you think the M&Ms look like on the inside?
What do you think people are like on the inside?
Why do you think people have different colored skin?
Why do you think people have different eye colors?
Do you think that people’s skin color makes them different from you
