Measurement (3)

Length (unit) Hunt

source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 19.6

Materials:
things for each pair of students to use as a unit (it should be equal to a standard unit), for example

• strip of card stock
• a stick
• a length of rope

Directions:

• give each pair of students the thing you want them to use to measure
• Then tell them to look for 5 things that are shorter than, longer than, or about the same as their target unit
• they should record these things (words or pictures)
• this will help improve familiarity with important standard unit

Be Ready for the Bell:

source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 19.25

Materials:

• recording sheet for each student with a set of clock faces and space to record digital time under clock faces (see blackline masters 33)
• timer

Directions:

• Give students the recording sheet
• Secretly set timer to go off at the hour, half hour, or minute. 
• When the bell rings, students should look up and record the time on the clock face and in numerals
• This encourages students to think about the passage of time and also to think about the relationship between the analog clock and the digital numerals

Personal Benchmarks:

source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 19.2

Materials:

• rulers 
• tape measures

Directions:

have students measure their ____ length:

• foot
• stride
• handspan (stretched fingers together)
• width of fingers
• arm span  (finger to finger and finger to nose)
• distance around wrist
• distance around waist
• height to shoulder
• height to waist
• height to head

some of these will be useful benchmarks for standard units

(average child child's fingernail is about 1 cm and most people have 10cm somewhere on their hands)

Geometry (3)

Quadrilateral Shapes

source: sheppardsoftware.com

Materials:

• Computer/tablet with access to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/decimals/DecimalModels.htm

Directions:

• students should go to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/decimals/DecimalModels.htm
• Then they should read about each shape to refresh their memory
• once they are ready they should click start game
• from there the game will give them different directions about which kind of shapes to click on so they can practice identifying different kinds of quadrilaterals

Dynamic Paper

source: illuminations.nctm.org

Materials:

• Printed nets from the dynamic paper applet
• Tape

Directions:

• Teacher should pre-print out the nets to create different shapes in different sizes
• The students should then play with the net and figure out what net they have
• They should then use tape to build a 3D model of the shape
• From there the students could use their net to find the surface area of their shape
• They could also try to find the volume of the shape

What's My Shape?

Source: source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 20.4

Materials:

• 2 sets of Blackline Masters 41-47 shapes (ideally, you could create your own) on cardstock per group
• Each should be cut out and glued inside a folded half-sheet of construction paper

Directions:

• one student per group is the leader
• the leader chooses a secret shape
• the other students try to find the shape by asking yes or no questions
• they are not allowed to point at a shape and say "is this the one"
• the questions must be about properties and characteristics of the shape
• once they've reduced their choices to one shape they check it against the shape the leader chose.  

Decimals (2)

Decimal of the day:

source: teacherspayteachers.com

Materials:

• decimal of the day cards (found at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decimals-1310220 or you can make your own)

Directions:

• each day students talk about different decimals, ranging from tenths to thousands
• they practice adding and subtracting with this decimal
• They practicing naming the decimal
• placing the decimal on a number line
• ordering decimals
• rounding decimals
• converting decimals to fractions

Matching Math

source: sheppardsortware.com

Materials:

• computer/tablet with access to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/decimals/DecimalModels.htm

Directions:

• students should go to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/decimals/DecimalModels.htm
• Then they can choose whether they wish to play relaxed or timed mode based on their level of comfort
• They have to match decimals to a representation of that decimal on a hundreds grid
• If they are right they get check and if they are wrong they get an X that quickly fades so they can try again

Data

Best Fit Line

source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 21.4

Materials:

• Data that students have already collected 
• copy of scatter plot for each group of students
• uncooked spaghetti noodles
• tape
• projection device

Directions:

• Give each group of students a copy of the scatter plot
• have them try to put the spaghetti noodle so that it is the best line 
• students should develop rational explaining why they put their lines where they did
• students should write equation for their line
• then the teacher should use a projection device to compare the lines chosen by different groups
• the data from different choices should be used to predict data for the new value

Estimation Activities

Page 1

Student	Web Address	Description
Courtney	http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/glowlas-estimation-contraption/	The students work to add three double digit numbers using estimation. They try to input a number close to the answer into the machine.
Shirley	http://www.education.com/activity/article/lets-estimate/	Estimation Card Game This activity uses a deck of cards to help students practice estimation. You can have two or more players playing this game at once, and all you need is a deck of cards, a pencil, and a sheet of paper. The players will pass out a card to each player face down, each player will guess what the card is, and record it. Then on three, the students flip over their cards and find the difference between their estimated guess and their actual card. At the end of the game, when all the cards have been used, players will find the difference between their estimated guesses and their actual card number. Whoever has the least amount wins the game!
Maggie	http://www.softschools.com/math/estimation/games/estimate_to_the_nearest_ten/	This game is called Estimate to the Nearest Ten.  In this game, students are given a number of objects and they must determine if it closer to one number rather than another.  They are timed and given a score.  This game addresses content that makes them determine whether an object is closest to a certain ten and it helps them because if they play it enough, they can determine the correct answer just be glancing at the amount of shapes instead of counting them.
Olivia	http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/how_tall/how_tall.html	http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/how_tall/how_tall.html Its a Curious George Themed Estimation Game geared towards pre-k thru 1st grade students. In this game, the students are to estimate how many of a smaller object are used to gauge height. This is a fun game that can be also taken off of the computer and used in real life with similar objects. For example, they use tennis balls to see how tall something is. Students could also use tennis balls to see how tall they are.
Erin	http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/round/mathman_round_hundreds.htm	MathMan- Round Numbers to the nearest hundred This activity is a lot like pac man, but the game refers to it as the man eating ghosts.  The game gives you a problem such as "round 265 to the nearest hundred" and the student has to use the arrow keys to move the math man and eat the ghost with the correct number on it. The man will not eat a ghost that does not answer the question, so the student has to get the answer correct in order for the man to eat the ghost and so they are able to move on to the next problem.  This game deals with rounding numbers to the nearest hundred.
Jess	http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/estimation-game.php	The Area Estimation game is a game that produces different size squares and rectangles and a smaller square as the number of how many its unit is (either 1 or 10). You are given a short amount of time to try and guess the right area of the larger shape.  You get points for guessing the correct answer and for being close, which is nice because actually guessing the correctly is extremely difficult so students can actually get some points.
Kyrstyn	http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/games/howbigareyou.html	The Dinosaur Train This game gives students a point of reference of dinosaur and then asks how many of another animal matches the length of the dinosaur. The students have to estimate how many of the other animal is would take to equal the length of the dinosaur. The content addressed is estimation of length.

Page 2

Gabriella D And Jane	http://www.theproblemsite.com/junior/estimation.asp	Guess It! This interactive game helps children to make estimates and approximations with the use of different sized and colored dots.  In this game, a scattered group of dots will come on the screen and the children will have a few seconds to look at the dots, but they won’t have enough time to actually count them.  After a few seconds, the dots disappear and the children answer a multiple-choice question about the amount of dots they saw. After the child chooses their answer, it tells them whether they were correct or incorrect. Some examples of questions include asking the children if there are more red or green dots, and also asking if the number of dots they see on the screen is closer to the number 5 or 25. You can also adjust the seconds you get to see the dots before they disappear so for more advanced students they can choose a smaller time, and for students who need a little bit more work than others, they can choose a higher time limit. This activity shows children a picture of a set of objects for a limited amount of time. Then, it makes the objects disappear. From there, it asks a question about the objects such as “Was the number of green dots closer to 20 or 30?” The student then has the chance to click their guess and the manipulative gives the correct answer. The student repeats a series of these guess it situations to help them gain a better understanding of how to make a good estimate based on the objects. It specifically addresses estimation with an educated guess and check aspect to the activity.
Rachel	http://www.mathnook.com/calculategenius.html	Calculate Genius This is a fast paced estimation game that addresses CCSS: 3.MD.A.2. It gives you a reference amount to find the the length, amount, or weight or different objects. I really liked it since it was so fast you had no other choice then to estimate the number. Sometimes with estimation games I end up actually calculating the amount instead of estimating; but you can't do that with this game.
Becca	http://www.iboard.co.uk/iwb/Estimate-and-Count-Marbles-402	Estimate and Count – Marbles This activity addresses quantity estimation. Students are given a glimpse of a jar filled with marbles. They must estimate the number of marbles they saw. After submitting their estimation, the same marbles come back onto the screen. Next, students count the number of marbles (they can drag the marbles to help). Then, they compare their initial estimation to the number they later counted. This allows students to see how close their estimations were to the actual amount of marbles. There are two level selections. Level A presents quantities up to 10 marbles. Level B presents quantities up to 20 marbles.
Mary	http://motionmathgames.com/how-to-get-your-kid-to-stop-saying-math-is-hard-4-estimation-activities/	Benchmarking Estimation Activity Directions: Fill one of each with coins: quart-sized, gallon-sized and snack-sized ziplock bags. Ask the children to count the number of coins in the quart-sized bag. Use that number as the benchmark to estimate how many coins are in a bigger (gallon-sized) ziplock bag. Estimate how many coins are in a smaller (snack-sized) ziplock bag. For an extra challenge, ask the students to talk you through the thought process of estimating the number of coins that would fit into a giant trash bag!
Emilie	http://www.iboard.co.uk/activity/Crayons-in-the-Pot-640	Crayons in the Pot In this online activity, students will look at the crayons in the pot and then estimate how many there are. Students could be asked "How did you make your estimate? What information did you use? What helped you to decide?" The students will then finally count the crayons by counting them. After the students have counted the crayons, they are able to drag the crayons over and group them. You can select the level of the game by the number of crayons (10 or 20). This activity is a fun way for students to begin to estimate objects that they may only see for a few seconds. Students are then practicing their counting.
Kendra	http://mrnussbaum.com/derby/	Home Run Derby Estimation This activity is an interactive math game where students will view a problem and must estimate to select an answer. If the answer is correct or a close estimation, a home run will be hit. Students can play against each other and their total scores will be kept track of. This activity addresses basic operations and estimation strategies as well as rounding properties.
Leah	http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/EstimateFractionsShapesShoot.htm	Estimate Fractional Shpaes Students are given a collection of regional fractions and a numerical fraction and they have to estimate which shapes have the fraction that they are given have the appropriate fraction shaded in
Paige	: http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/glowlas-estimation-contraption/	I found this fun on-line game called Glowa's Estimation Contraption.  This game games you an addition problem and you are supposed to estimate the total by rounding up or down and figuring out what number would get you close to the correct total.  This would be a fun game to play as whole class in the beginning of every math class. It would be good to play a level a day just to get the students to work with estimation.  This could also be used in a math center where students could work as partners to complete the different levels
Jane	http://www.pinterest.com/pin/553590979169417325/   (click the photo to go to the website it came from)	Fruit Loop Estimation Activity Materials: 1.     Construction Paper 2.     Fruit Loops 3.     Markers 4.     Half Sheets of paper with estimation questions This activity has the student trace their hand on the top of the construction paper. Then the students have to make an educated guess or an estimate about how many fruit loops would fit into the space of their traced hand. The students then glue the half sheet with questions underneath their traced hand and answer the 1st questions which asks them to write their estimation down. Next, they actually glue down as many fruit loops as they can in the space and count them. They write down the actual amount on the half sheet. Next, the half sheet asks, “Was this a good estimate? Why or why not?” This gives the students a chance to compare their estimate with the actual amount and reason about why the estimate was good or not based off of if it was close or far off from the actual.

Page 3

Marissa	http://www.education.com/activity/article/guess-amount-estimation-jar/	Guess the Amount in Your Own Estimation Jar! Using any material you want: gumballs, coins, buttons, grapes, have your students estimate how many are in the jar, and have them record their estimation. Then have the students dump the amount of objects in the jar on to a table or floor. The students will then count the actual total of objects to see if their estimations were close to the total or far from the total. Then the students will fill up the jar again with the objects or different objects with a different amount of them, and use what they learned about previous estimation strategies for new ones when counting the new amounts of objects.
Amanda and Meghan and Gabby	https://www.mangahigh.com/en-us/games/iceicemaybe	Ice Ice Maybe Help penguins migrate across a perilous ocean patrolled by hungry killer whales. Use your estimation and approximation skills to position floating icebergs and bounce the penguins safely from glacier to glacier. Students are given an addition problem and are expected to use their estimating skills to click on the iceberg that is the closest estimation. Ice Ice Maybe The purpose of this game is for the students to use estimation to help the penguins cross the deadly ocean to another ice glacier. The students will estimate fractions of whole numbers and enter them on to the computer. If they enter the answers within a five digit range, the penguin will safely be able to cross the ocean. If they do not make it in a five digit range, the penguins will not be able to cross the ocean. This game is a fun way for the students to practice their fractions and also practice estimating numbers to the closest "safe number."  To play this game, you must solve the problem at hand and round it to the nearest quarter; so 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100, or estimate your answer. The problems contain addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions/ percentage problems. You must safely help the penguins get across the ice, but faster than the time/clock limit. After you click on your answer, the actual answer is revealed to you to check your work. Finally, after each round, you get new problems to do and more/less penguins to save.

Page 4

Christy

http://www.education.com/activity/article/lets-estimate/

Estimation Game This card estimation game is a great way for the students to get comfortable with the concept of estimation and to get in some all-important addition practice. Estimation is an important skill that will serve the student both inside and outside of the classroom. Once they have mastered the art of estimation, the students will find that it comes in handy during everything from standardized tests to future shopping trips!

What You Need:

Deck of cards (with the face cards removed) Two or more players A pencil for each player Paper

What You Do:

Give each player a piece of scrap paper for working out the equations. Give each player another piece of paper to record his scores. On this piece of paper have the players create two score columns; one for guesses, another for estimates. Have your child shuffle the deck of cards. Aces have a value of 1 for the purpose of this game. Next, have your child and the other players decide who the dealer will be. The dealer must then deal a card to both himself and the other players, face down. Both your child and the other players should guess the value of the card they have been dealt. Have your child and the other players count to three. On three, they should all flip their cards over. Players should then calculate the difference between what they guessed and the value of the actual card and record the difference in the guess column of their scorecards.  Discard that round of cards. The dealer should then deal a new round of cards. After 5 rounds are dealt, each player should estimate the amount of points from guessing they've earned.  Have them add up their guess scores and calculate the difference between their estimate and their acutal score. Record the difference in the estimate column. Continue until the deck has run out. At the end, have the players add up all of their scores from both of the columns. The player with the lowest score wins!