Learning how to estimate is an important math skill. It allows us to make quick, general calculations and measurements, and to do a sense-check of more detailed calculations. Let’s try!
Candy cane math estimating activity
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This article is one of NurtureStore’s Christmas math centres and part of our Christmas activities and crafts for children.
In this activity, let’s introduce our children to the concept of estimating. It allows them to:
:: develop the skill of subitizing: making a quick visual assessment of a small number of things without having to count them individually – so you can instantly see a jar has one, two or three canes
:: use visual skills to compare sizes and amounts – which jar has more? Does it have many more or just a few more?
:: begin to use comparison to work out approximate amounts – does this jar have twice as many? Three times as many? Ten times as many?
:: have the confidence to give an estimate – sometimes we’re worried about not giving the correct answer. We need to know that estimating doesn’t have to be perfect and to feel confident to offer an answer in class.
Candy cane estimation activity
Materials needed:
:: candy canes
:: glass or clear plastic jars
:: pen
::paper
Set out three or four glass jars with a different amount of candy canes in each. Perhaps a jar with two, a jar with five, a jar with fifteen. You can label the first two jars with the number of canes they contain, to give beginners a starting point for their estimating, or leave them all without numbers.
Invite your children to guess (estimate) how many candy canes are in each jar, without counting.
You can ask them to write down their estimates on a simple chart or grid.
You might collate the estimates of the class or work individually. Encourage your children to have a good guess, but don’t single out anyone whose answer was far from the actual amount.
After everyone has estimated, count out the candy canes from each jar. Lay the candy canes out in a line, so you can clearly see how many were in each jar.
Chat about the lines of candy canes:
:: Can they see now which line is bigger?
:: Does it look twice as big, or only just a little bigger?
:: Give your children time to compare the lines of canes and begin to develop their visual discrimination skills.
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