Estimation

THOUGHT

Estimation is inherently difficult to do.

REFLECTION #1

Students must understand that in estimation, there is always "something" to go by. For example, when estimating how many grains of rice there are in a cup of rice, students can use estimate how many grains of rice fit into a 1 cm Base Ten Block, how many 1 cm Base Ten Blocks of rice fit into a tablespoon, and how many tablespoons of rice fit into a quarter cup. From here, students can use multiplication to estimate approximately how many grains of rice are in a quarter cup, and thus, how many are in a cup.

REFLECTION #2

This type of estimation experiment is best done with physical rice and objects of measurement (cups, spoons, etc). This way, students can understand how more "accurate" estimates are found, and they will be less likely to believe that a trillion grains of rice will fit into one average-sized room.

Approximately how many grains of rice WILL fit into an average-sized room?