Estimation Station

Looking for a way to improve your student’s estimation skills? Need a school-wide strategy to boost interest in math? It might be time to build an estimation station!

Goals: To improve estimation skills and to motivate young mathematicians.

Objectives: Students will be able to 1) estimate various things and 2) utilize different estimation strategies.

Driving Question: What’s your estimation and why?

Procedure:

  1. Build an estimation station. The station should have two see-through containers (large pickle jars work great). In one, you will put the items to be estimated; and in the other, the students will put their estimations. You can have the kids design and build it (I’ve seen ones that look like a train depot and another that looked like a scale of justice) or you can turn it over to a business or community partner.
  2. Find a central location for the station and create a poster or sign to promote it. You may choose to put it near the entrance of the school or on wheels so you can move it from class to class. Make sure that it is low enough for small kids to see and reach. Also make sure that it can’t be knocked over or tampered with easily.
  3. Explain the station to the faculty and kids. Post the rules and procedures next to the station. At most schools, a new estimation item is introduced on Monday, children make their estimations throughout the week, and the winning estimator is announced Friday afternoon.
  4. Create a grade-level or class rotation for the administration of the station. Each week, a different child, group, class, or grade level should be in charge of the station. They decide what will be estimated, set up the station, collect and tally the “guesses,” and announce the winner
  5. Fill the estimation jar (Let the kid's imagination run wild – I’ve seen leaves, jelly beans, bottle tops, paper clips, coins, pencils, etc.) and let the estimations begin!
  6. Announce the “Mater Estimator of the Week” and have them share their strategy with the rest of the school. You can also discuss other strategies in the classroom.

Materials: 2 large jars or other types of containers, estimation items, estimation forms (a small piece of paper with the child’s name, class, and estimation – you can also do this via e-mail?), poster boards and markers.

Estimation Station, Folwell Dunbar, 2008