005 Estimating Quantity

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Teacher Notes


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Activity OutcomeEstimating, reading, writing, saying and understanding large whole numbers. Area. Volume.
MTS Set MTS7
NATIONAL Curriculum The Number System
Topics Understand Whole Numbers
Rounding Whole Numbers
Keywords Strategies, Large Numbers, Integers, Estimating
GroupingIndependent, followed by partner sharing
ResourcesAs selected by students.
Lesson Notes
  • Ask students to choose a problem they would like to investigate (ensure there is a balance of students working on each problem).
  • Encourage students to make a guess about the large number answer to their chosen problems.
  • Students develop and describe strategies for solving their problem.
  • Students meet with a partner who has worked on the same problem.
  • In pairs students decide on the best strategy for making an efficient and reasonably accurate conjecture about the large number answer.
  • Students check and verify their work.
  • Students report on their findings and strategy to the whole class.
  • For example, all pairs who have solved question 1 go to the front of the room. The other students register a quick guestimate for question 1. The pairs then share their strategies and solutions with the class. The listeners assist in determining which pair or pairs have the best strategy. Repeat for other questions.
  • Encourage listeners to question reporters about their process and solutions.
  • Extend: Students estimate the time it would take to manually count every leaf on a shrub, word in a paper ...
ReflectionsAsk: Can you think of a reasonably complex problem you have solved using mathematics that you have learned at school? (Not a problem given to you by a teacher).
Internet Links
AnswersAnswers will vary