You could present this investigation orally to begin with by asking learners to sketch one arrangement of the $36$ sweets on their mini-whiteboards or on paper. Encourage them to share some of their ideas in pairs and then with the whole group. You might find you need to discuss limitations such as whether the sweets can be different shapes or different sizes. Read the question together to make sure the task is understood. Decide on various limitations such as whether the sweets can be different shapes or different sizes. Then, with learners working in pairs, start on the designs.

Children could then work in their pairs to find other designs. It would be useful to have coloured pencils and squared paper available, and (if possible) isometric paper for those who explore triangular boxes. Having counters on hand to represent the sweets would also be helpful, particularly when it comes to looking at their arrangements in the boxes.

This investigation would work well as an extended activity with space on the wall dedicated to displaying what has been found out so far. Once the children have contributed a range of ideas to the wall, take time to bring them together and look at what they have found out. Are there other questions they would like to ask as a result?

Are there any other ways?

Some learners might like to use triangular or hexagonal cells, rather than squares, for the sweets. They could also explore the 'four colour map problem' (or four colour theorem). Can they draw a 'map' for which it is necessary to have more than four colours so that no two 'countries' which share a border are the same colour?