#Taskmaster - Estimate of Perimeter in...

Calculating perimeter can be a bit, er, repetitive.

Estimating can be a bit, er, repetitive.

And, Taskmaster have come up trumps again!

So, you've been studying perimeter. You've measured, you've done 2(A+B), the trundle wheels have been out, you've costed a new fence for the school field and more...

You've tried and tried to convince your class of the virtues of estimating, but they think you're just balmy.

Well, we like this task!

In the task the contestants have to estimate the perimeter of the caravan in baked beans. So, perimeter of the field in beans, the perimeter of the school hall in paper clips, the perimeter of a maths book in dice and so on...

Same learning, same objectives, but in a different way. Mix things up and get 'em thinking! Let us know how y'all get on...

#Taskmaster - How Much Would You Give?

Yep, another one from the most recent series of Taskmaster!

Each episode, the contestants are asked to bring something. In this particular episode, they were asked to bring a sum of money. Whichever contestant brought the most money got to keep the lot.

Now, it's unlikely our primary-aged pupils will want to bring all their hard-earned pocked money to school, so we thought of a way round that...

We've created 10 fictional people and written how much is in each person's bank account. Split the children into groups of 4 or 5 and get them to decide how much of their money is going to go into the pot. Then, get them to share their decisions and see who would have taken the loot! The footballer? the teacher? how much, or little will the highest amount be? who takes risks and who doesn't?

A bit of estimating, a bit of guess work, a bit like Top Trumps. A great oracy opportunity to discuss people's thoughts and choices.

#Taskmaster - Draw the Median Duck

Yep, another idea from the fantastic Taskmaster on Dave.

 Image credit: screen capture of Dave TV Channel

This one is about averages. Get a group of about five children together and ask them to 'Draw the median duck'. 

Once they have all drawn their ducks, measure each one from beak to tail. The person closest to the median wins. Do you draw large, small? What's everyone else going to do? Who knows! It's similar to Spoof, in that thinking about the likely actions of others needs to be thought about. 

NB: Guess what! It doesn't have to be a duck. IT could be anything!

More Estimation Displays

In addition to our recent posts about estimation in the classroom, we've now added some new displays to our year group.

We discovered the idea of using baby wipe lids for displays a long time ago via Twitter. We can't remember the origin, but are happy to add a reference if one is provided. As a new dad, I now have, for the first time, many, many baby wipe lids at my disposal. So, as they've become available, I've used them to set up estimation tasks around our year group and classrooms. Some are about the height and width of doors, others about the length of items and distances around the building too. 

 Image credit: Tesco

Got a baby? Know someone with a baby? Save up those baby wipe lids. Measure some items. Make some displays...

Estimation Part II

Previously we looked at one of the ideas we are using topromote the skill of estimating in children including a link to the website www.estimation180.com set up by a teacher called Andrew Stadel. In this entry, we are going to share some of things we have done to further promote estimating with our children.

The importance of estimation was first raised when we read Jo Boaler’s thought-provoking book ‘The Elephant in the Classroom’. Throughout the book, the author reiterates the importance of estimating as a skill for all mathematicians. Armed with this suggestion, we looked at the children in our maths classes and noticed that many of them found it hard to use estimating to help them check answers, use common sense to identify solutions or to support their problem solving.

In order to develop estimation, we developed two immediate solutions. The first was to set up an estimating display within the class. Similar to the previous post, this was an image next to a whiteboard so that children are able to put their suggestions near the picture.

So far, we have used images of Minecraft buildings, football stadiums and even a picture of a tub full of baked beans. Purposefully we make it clear that there we do not have an accurate answer and instead encourage children to go through a process of estimating the correct answer.

Estimate how many blocks were used to make this castle.

At the same time as developing this display, we also discovered the fabulous www.estimation180.com website. The author of this incredibly useful website has created an archive of a vast number of images from which children can make estimations. The truly brilliant thing about the website is that many of the images are linked over a range of days so children, as part of a process of estimation, can build on the information they have found over previous days. Coupled with this, each page has a range of questions on such as ‘what would be a low estimate?’ or ‘what would be a high estimate?’. The author also always provides an answer either with a photo or a video.

By making regular use of this website and the questions, we have developed with the children a process of using estimation in their maths:

•  What is a low estimate? – developed into – What is a low estimate that is close to the correct answer?
•  What is a high estimate? – developed into – What is a high estimate that is close to the correct answer?
• Make your estimate.

A photo from the website is often the image that children work from at the start of the lesson as a basis for a quick mathematical discussion to start the lesson. At the start of the year, my favourite section of the website to use starts with toilet paper as it is something children are able to relate to straight away.

How many sheets on the roll of toilet paper?

It is worth noting that many of the measurements are American, but have linked metric measurements as well.

Estimation Challenge

At the end of January, I attended a day's maths training. It was good, I got lots of good ideas. The one that stood out was this one:

I sat next to a lady, whose name I didn't find out, let alone what school she was from (if I find out, an update will be added). She gave me the following idea.

Ask the children to fill pots and containers at home with 'stuff'. For example, paper clips, pebbles, marbles and so on. Then, each week, put one of these on display and invite the rest of the class to estimate the number of items in the container. Ensure the child setting the challenge know the answer. 

@ukedchat @ThisIsLiamM there's also this website http://t.co/cy63AMvHRP although less interactive for your pupils mine enjoy it
— Jamie (@Jay84uk) February 15, 2015