Investigations
Estimation helps students use logic and reasoning in problem-solving situations with numbers and helps to judge how appropriate an answer is.
Materials:
- copy of the chart below, (just draw your own if you don’t have a printer)
- Pencil or pen
- Something to keep track of time with (clock, watch, stopwatch or virtual stopwatch)
Instructions:
- Have your child choose an activity from the chart.
- Have your child estimate how long it will take to complete the
chosen activity. - Use a clock, watch, or stopwatch to time how long it actually
takes. - Switch roles; now you can do the task while your child keeps
track of the time. - Complete the other activities from the chart or make
up your own activities.
Activity | Estimated Time | Actual Time |
---|---|---|
Brush My Teeth | ||
Make My Bed | ||
Set The Table | ||
Wash My Hands | ||
Let’s Talk About It
- How close were your estimates to the actual times to do the activity?
- Were some activities more difficult to estimate? Why?
- What strategy did you use to estimate?
(adapted from mathies.ca)
Categories: Elementary