When we fill our vehicles with gas, purchase items at a store or work on completing a task we often estimate the outcome whether it be number of gallons, total amount of purchase or time to complete the task. Students enjoy using estimation in the classroom and become active learners in this type of activity. They really become involved when a small prize is attached! Graphing estimation with actual results gives a great visual with results. Students skills at estimation will only improve as they participate in more of the following types of estimation activities. A great lesson and template for the winter holidays is listed at the beginning as well as a few other great ideas to increase student engagement.
   

Christmas Tree Estimation
The Christmas tree is a tradition at many homes during the holiday season. Selecting just the right tree is a very important. Students will have fun viewing just the right tree by cruising the photo album from The Branch House Tree Farm in Crossnore, North Carolina. The objective of this activity is to view the different tree sizes and estimate their height. They can then plug their estimations into the template that gives the actual tree height and create their graphs to show how their estimations compare with actual trees' heights!

Christmas Tree Photo Album

Christmas Tree Estimation Template
The Branch House Farm
The Branch House Tree Farm
Crossnore, North Carolina
July, 2000
Pink Line
   

Other Great Estimation Activities for the Classroom

  1. Amount of candy in a jar or bag. Skittles Estimation Activity
  2. The length of different objects in the classroom.
  3. The number of windows in the building.
  4. The high and low temperature for the day.
  5. The number of boys and girls in a grade level.
  6. The weight of certain items in the classroom.
  7. The total number of letters in everyone's name.
  8. The number of brothers and sisters of fellow classmates.
  9. The number of math manipulatives in a container.
  10. The number of one inch cubes that can be stacked before falling.
   

These are just a few examples to use in the classroom. The best examples are ones that happen at a teachable moment!

 
Developing Estimation Strategies by Making Connections - This is great resource at Illuminations, the NCTM site that is designed to "illuminate" the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathmatics.
   
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Kathy Adkins
Forsyth County Schools