Support Materials --

Math for All

Guessing

During this 30-minute math program you will:

see that in most cases we guess, estimate, rather than count

discover that you can make better guesses the more you practice

see that guessing is fun

Activity #1

Look, don't touch--Touch, don't look
In this activity, you'll ask your child to guess how many pennies there are in a:

clear plastic bag by looking at the pennies only

brown bag by feeling the pennies only
Materials:

pennies
clear plastic bags
brown paper bags
paper and pencil
Additional Activities:
You can do this activity with your children at home by putting different things in different size containers and seeing who can guess the closest. Try bottle caps, macaroni, toothpics, marbles, beans or better yet, jelly beans and the winner gets to keep them. This makes a good party activity for adults as well as children

Activity #2

To hold--is to have how many?
In this activity, you'll have your child guess how many lima beans can be held in his or her hand. Write down the guess and then count the number of beans held in one hand. Was you child's guess right? Now guess who in the room can hold the most beans in their hand; then see who guessed the closest.
Materials:

Lima beans;
Paper and pencil
Additional Activities:
Do this activity at home with your children using marbles, different kinds of beans, and other small objects they can hold in their hands. Have them get other family members to do the same.

Activity #3

To see is to know--or is it?
In this activity, your child will guess the distance around various parts of the body, starting with the head. First, have your child estimate and then cut a piece of string that looks like it will go around his or her head. Then help your child see how close the estimate was to the actual distance around.
Materials:

String or yarn
Scissors
Additional Activities:
Practice estimating by trying this with different parts of the body--neck, wrist, waist and with using other members of the family. Does practice help?

Guess again--and again

Have your child guess how many times the refrigerator door is opened in one day. Help keep tally by placing a piece of paper right on the refrigerator door.

Have your child guess how many spoons will be used by the family in one day. Decide whether to count all spoons or just the ones used at the table.

Guess how many times the letter "a" is used in the family's names. Help younger children by printing or spelling the names and then help count if help is needed.
Try this at home:

Place your child's hand flat on a piece of paper with the fingers close together and trace around it with crayons.

Have your child guess how many beans it will take to cover the inside shape of the hand you drew. Have your child fill the hand print in and then help count to see how close the count was to the estimate.

Try this with other small objects or with other size hands.