National company learns from fourth grade class-and vice versa

A local fourth grade class was surprised with a personal response and some free candy after reaching out to the company that produces Sixlets.

When Judi Roach's fourth grade class began studying fractions with the help of Sixlets candy, the class discovered that the packets included varying amounts of candy. The class also wondered how the company created the name "Sixlets."

The kids decided to send a video to the company containing some of its questions and what they'd discovered regarding the changing amounts of candy in each package.

"They sent us a response letter and three boxes of sixlets," Roach said.

The students then used their mathematical skills to determine that among the packages meant to contain 20 pieces of candy, 71 percent of the packages contained 20 pieces of candy, 14.5 percent contained 19 and 14.5 percent contained 21 pieces.

"We were very excited and honored that you chose to use Sixlets in your math class," said Joe Annunziato, Sixlets production manager in a letter to the class. "We use fractions every day in our office, especially when deciding how many of each color to put into our different bags!"

No one is sure exactly how the name Sixlets came to be, the letter stated. Legend is that the candy was invented in the 1960s with six candies per tube and sold for one cent per package.

"Although the product has evolved over time into different tube sizes, the Sixlets name remains the same," Annunziato said. "We even have a tube that has 20 pieces in it."

The tubes the fourth graders initially used in class were designed to hold eight candies but sometimes contain six, seven or nine pieces, the letter stated.

"The way the candy is made in our factory, there is a very small probability that a tube may not have the standard 8 pieces in it," Annunziato said.

The company thanked the class for its interest in Sixlets and expressed hope that the class might use them in its next lesson on fractions.