Candy used to hone math skills

Elementary math teacher uses candy hearts to teach students how to make estimates.

HAMILTON — Ali Richard, gifted math teacher at Riverview and Highland elementary schools, has come up with a sweet idea to help students hone their estimating skills.

“It all started when I saw a jar at Hobby Lobby that I loved, and I thought I could use it for candy in my classroom,” Richard said.

Then she realized how much more mileage she could get out of it.

She first placed the empty jar on a table in each school’s office and is having students estimate how much candy — the ubiquitous candy hearts with Valentine’s Day messages seemed seasonally appropriate — would be able to fit in it.

Later she added one bag of candy into the jar to provide a clue. She then hung bags containing amounts of candy so students could see what 10 or 100 pieces of candy would look like.

She also set out some books and other materials about how to estimate large amounts.

“Estimating is an important skill, and when I finally tell them how many are in the jar, they are going to be surprised how wrong they are,” Richard said.

Prizes will be awarded at each school for those who guess closest by the end of the competition Friday.

During lunch, “I’m going to give the kids a cup of candy at their tables and let them count to double-check,” she said.

“That jar I thought was so cute for $2.50 has now cost me over $200,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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