Lesson Plan

Rachel Brown, Shaina Hiatt, Jessica Grandlinard

Lesson: Estimation

Length: 25 Minutes

Age or Grade Level Intended: 5th Grade

Academic Standard(s):

Math 5.2.5- Use estimation to determine whether answers are reasonable in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems.

Performance Objective(s):

Given twelve pictures of the estimation jars, the students will make a reasonable estimation for each jar.

Assessment:

The students will fill out a worksheet over the twelve estimate pictures. The teachers will then formatively assess the students’ answers and determine whether answers are reasonable.

Advance Preparation by Teacher:

  • Jar full of jelly beans
  • Betcha! By Stuart Murphy
  • Jar estimation worksheet
  • Computer for Math Live! Website
  • Jar Guessing Worksheet
  • Pictures of estimation objects

Procedure:

Introduction/Motivation:

Show students the jar of jelly beans (Gardner: Visual/Spatial). Have the students guess how many jelly beans are in the jar by having them write their guess on a sheet of paper. Ask the students, “How did you get your answer?” (Bloom: Comprehension).

Step-by-Step Plan:

  1. Read Betcha to the students.
  2. After reading, ask the students the following questions:
  3. What were the two ways the boys were using to come up with the numbers? (Bloom: Knowledge)
  4. Is it always appropriate to make an estimate? (Bloom: Evaluation)
  5. Pull up the math live! Website. Play the estimation video for the students. (Gardener: Visual/Spatial, Verbal/Linguistic)
  6. Hand out the estimation worksheet.
  7. Show the students the pictures of the jars. Have the students label what is in the jar and write their guess. (Gardner: Intrapersonal, Visual/Spatial)

Closure:

Revisit the jellybean jar. Remind the students that a good estimate is reasonable and easy to compute. In tomorrow’s lesson, we will be talking about rounding and how rounding can help us make good estimates.

Adaptations/Enrichment:

Adaptations: Break problems into smaller steps. Provide extra information and clues. Give students situation cards.

Enrichment: Write how they got their estimate. Create their own estimation problem.

Self-Reflection:

  • Did the students grasp the concept of estimation?
  • Were the students engaged during the lesson?
  • Did I explain the concept of estimation effectively?
  • Were my objectives met?
  • How was my classroom management?
  • What should I change the next time I teach this lesson?