Estimation Jar

When you think Estimation Jar, you usually think younger grades. Or at least I did. This last week at the Creative Mathematics Math Camp, I learned how valuable this is in the 5th, 6th and 7th grade classroom. Estimation is something that kids struggle with a lot! Probably a great deal of this comes from the fact that our curriculum teaches it in a matter of a week or two during the school year.... and that's it!

Estimation is something that should be taught weekly if not daily. And how in the world do we have time to do that you ask?!? With an Estimation Jar. Each week, there is a poster giving the problem along with the jar.  Of course the problems are more complexed with the older guys and not your basic "How many pieces do you think are in this jar?" questions. 

I know this is close to impossible to read (thank you, iPhone) but it says:

Estimating Jar

Estimate the total number of continents on the globes in the jar.

and then this was the jar. 

so the kids are doing a multi-step question. 

1st: Estimating the amount of globes they think are in the jar

2nd: Multiplying that number by the amount of continents on the globe

The way it was explained (and I plan on doing this the same way next year) is that the Estimating Jar will be introduced on Tuesday. I will have a poster up with the question and the jar in front of it. Students will get to problem solve and estimate Tuesday, (and Wednesday) place their estimations on post it notes and post to the board. Thursday we will take some time to go over the students estimates and strategies on possible ways to get to the correct answer. Estimating Jar and Problem of the Week (a blog to come) will take the place of my warm up activities. It will take about the first 10-15 minutes of each class and will be something the kids can come in and begin on their own. I am really excited about the new structure of my math class next year. 

I leave you with pictures galore! We each brought in a sample Estimating Jar this week with a question.  I hope this gets the ball rolling in your head and sparks some ideas like it did for me. :)