Math Monday/ Estimation

After watching an episode about estimation on Sid the Science Kid we decided to do a little estimation of our own. Can you believe I couldn’t find a clear jar in my house, reminder I must get it through my husband’s head to not throw them all away, it bothers him when I save what he considers to be trash.

Instead I used a clear plastic glass well it wasn’t totally clear, but it worked and Selena’s pattern blocks. Since the sizes and shapes of the blocks are different, I made sure and used the same number of each shape. I will tell you the exact amount at the end of the post. We discussed different ways we could estimate the number of objects in the glass.

First was the Blue Diamonds. I put them in the glass and had Selena make her guess of how many she thought was in the glass. It was cute the way she tried to count them through the clear plastic and came up with the guess of 4.

Next we used white diamonds. Selena carefully examined it and guessed 8.

  She was surprised over how many red trapezoids that appeared to be in the glass, she guessed there were 10 in it.

She was sure I cheated her on the green triangles and guessed 4 again.

Now this one was over the top, she thought there had to be at least 15 hexagons in her glass.

We counted them all then compared the sizes and shapes of each different pattern shape. Each time she had the same number, 20 of every shape placed in her glass. I thought it was cute how her guess changed with her observations.

She made the following comparisons at the end of our game:

They looked like we had more or less because they are different shape, size and she had to add color. Great observations, Selena!