Skittles Math- With Printable

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Want to make math time a little more colorful—and a whole lot more fun? Try Skittles math activities! This hands-on approach turns a bag of candy into a powerful learning tool that helps kids explore math concepts like greater than/less than, number sentences, and fractions—all while sneaking in some sweet rewards.

Whether you’re a homeschooler, classroom teacher, or parent looking for a creative way to review math skills, this printable activity pack is a great resource for making learning both tangible and tasty.

Inspired by Skittles Riddles Math by Barbara McGrath

Our activity was originally inspired by the book Skittles Riddles Math by Barbara McGrath. It’s a fun read filled with math problems and candy-themed riddles. The book covers concepts like:

• Number sentences

• Greater than / Less than

• Number lines and negative numbers

• Fractions and reducing fractions

• Adding fractions

If your kids are comfortable with early math or you’re introducing these ideas, this book is a great companion.

Tip: You don’t need the book to enjoy this math activity! I created a printable to go along with the same concepts so any bag of Skittles can turn into an exciting math lesson.

What Kids Will Learn with Skittles Math

My printable pack includes 4 engaging pages focused on:

• Greater than / Less than with Skittles color sorting

• Addition & subtraction number sentences using Skittles as manipulatives

• Basic fractions (like what fraction of your Skittles are red?)

• Simplifying fractions with visual reinforcement

These colorful, hands-on activities help reinforce key math skills in a multi-sensory way that really sticks.

How to Use Skittles for Math

Here’s how to turn any math lesson into sweet math fun:

1. Grab a small bag (or bowl) of Skittles per child.

2. Have kids sort by color, then count and record their totals.

3. Use the printable worksheets to explore math concepts with the real Skittles as visual aids.

4. Let them eat the Skittles as a reward after completing a page or activity.

Bonus idea: Create your own riddles or math word problems using the candies in front of you!

Want the Printable Skittles Math Activity Pack?

This printable includes:

• 4 ready-to-use pages

• Color-based math with Skittles

• Great for 1st–3rd grade math concepts

• Ideal for small groups, homeschool, or math centers

Download it in my shop here!

More Fun Math Activities to Do with Skittles

1. Sorting & Tallying (Preschool – Grade 1)

• Have kids sort a handful of Skittles by color.

• Use tally marks to record how many of each color they have.

• Introduce basic graphing with a bar chart or pictograph.

Skills: Sorting, counting, early data collection, visual representation

2. Graphing Practice (K – Grade 3)

• Create a bar graph or pie chart showing the number of each Skittle color.

• Ask comparison questions like:

  • “Which color do you have the most of?”

  • “How many more red than green?”

  • “If you ate two yellows, how many would be left?”

Skills: Data analysis, comparing numbers, subtraction

3. Patterns & Sequences (Preschool – Grade 2)

• Lay out Skittles in simple AB, ABB, or ABC patterns.

• Have kids extend the pattern or build their own.

• Challenge older kids with symmetrical patterns or repeating series.

Skills: Pattern recognition, logic, sequencing

4. Estimation & Probability (Grades 2–5)

• Before opening the pack, ask:
  “Which color do you think will be most common?”
  “How many Skittles do you think are inside?”

• Open and count—were the estimates close?

• Combine this with multiple packs to explore probability.

Skills: Estimation, probability, data collection

5. Ratios & Proportions (Grades 3–5)

• After sorting, compare ratios of one color to another:
  “What is the ratio of red to green?”
  “What fraction of the Skittles are orange?”

• Introduce simplifying ratios and comparing proportions.

Skills: Ratios, fractions, simplification

6. Multiplication Arrays (Grades 2–4)

• Lay out Skittles in rows and columns to form multiplication arrays.
  For example, 3 rows of 4 Skittles = 12 total.

Skills: Multiplication, skip counting, visual math

7. Place Value Practice (Grades 1–3)

• Assign each color a place value (e.g., red = tens, yellow = ones).

• Give students a handful of Skittles and have them build and write numbers.

Skills: Place value, number formation

8. Word Problems & Math Journals

• Have students write and solve their own Skittles-themed word problems:

  • “I had 12 Skittles and ate 5. How many are left?”

  • “If I want to give 3 friends an equal number of Skittles, how many will each get?”

Skills: Math fluency, reasoning, writing across the curriculum

Have fun eating your way through math!   See my posts on Hershey’s Fractions & M & M Math for more candy math ideas! 

Have fun eating your way through math!  

See More Candy Learning:

• Hershey’s Fractions  
• M & M Math 
• Licorice Shapes and Angles
• Gummy Bear Math~ Patterns, Graphing and Addition
• Edible Slime from Starburst Candy
• Trail Mix Graphing Activity for Kids: Math You Can Eat!