This month, the second graders in 203 have delved into the exciting world of estimations! We have been exploring what the word estimation means, when to make an estimation, and what strategies to use when making one. We are using an “estimation jar” as a fun and interactive way to practice this important math skill. Each week, a new student gets to fill the jar, while the rest of the class has the chance to guess the number of objects in the jar, such as marbles, small erasers, and even lollipops. After making their estimations, we count the items together to see how close everyone was. As an extension, we are also working on taking the total number of objects in the jar and figuring out how to split them evenly among the class.

These activities not only build number sense but also encourage critical thinking and reasoning as the students refine their ability to make educated guesses. It has been a fun way for second graders to connect math with everyday life and to learn that estimations are useful tools, even outside the classroom!