Would You Rather Have?

*Process can be done individually, in pairs, or small groups

Materials Needed:

Pencil

Paper

Calculator

Nickels and Pennies

Ruler

Description:

Part I

Allow children to work in pairs. Distribute materials to each
pair of students. Pose the question "Would you rather have…
a) your height stacked in pennies (or), b) your height in nickels
stacked end to end. Ask the students to first estimate an answer
and write it down somewhere they can refer to it later. Then ask
the children to solve the problem using any of the materials provided
in any way most comfortable for them. Have the students check
their actual calculated answer with their estimate to see if their
estimation was accurate. Some students will finish faster than
the others. Have those who finish move on to the second part.

Part II

As a second part of this activity, pose the question, "Using
which ever coin you decided that you would like your height stacked
in, estimate the total price of you or your partner’s height.
Have the students write this estimation down in a safe place.
Using any of the materials provided have the students calculate
the actual answer and check their estimation to see if they correctly
estimated.

Conclusion:

When everyone is finished with Part I (or Part II if you wish
that the activity last longer), let each pair of students with
the correct answer have a turn explaining their answer and comparing
their estimation aloud to the class. For those students who were
quick and completed Part II, have them do the same, explaining
their estimation and answer aloud.

Note: The second part of this activity is not necessary when completing
this activity, but may be helpful in occupying those students
who have quickly mastered the first part.

Extensions: This activity may be altered by using different coin
values or different objects.

Source: Minneapolis General Math Project, A Reasonably Close Encounter:
Estimation Skills. California: Dale Seymour Publications, 1983.