Lesson Plan Presentation for Math Estimation Jar MTE 532 September 26, 2010

Estimation Jar The Estimation Jar lesson is a creative plan that addresses several state standards. Students will count and group in sequences to 100, review even/odd numbers, estimate and solve for sums and differences. This 2 nd grade lesson provides students with differentiated instructional activities to meet the needs of diverse learners. Scaffolding activities are included for at-risk students along with extensions for gifted learners. After instruction, students will be given a two part assessment to demonstrate understanding.

Standards of Learning The student will:  count forward by fives and ten to 100, starting at various multiples of 5 or 10, using mental mathematics, paper and pencil, and/or concrete objects (jelly beans) as appropriate.  recognize even and odd numbers.  compare two whole numbers between 0 and 999 using symbols and words.  find the sum and/or difference, given two whole numbers, using various methods of calculation.  use the data from this activity (estimations) to create a graph.  estimate the sum.

Objectives  The student will count by fives and tens to 100.  The student will compare and organize numbers in sequential order, from the smallest to the largest.  The student will estimate the sum of jellybeans in the jar.  The student will recognize even and odd numbers.  Given two whole numbers, each of which is less than 99, the student will calculate the difference and/or sum of the numbers using various methods of calculation.

Materials Needed  A jar filled with 100 or fewer jelly beans.  One small piece of paper for each student to write his or her name and estimate on.  Pencils  Jar for names and estimates  Estimation worksheet with pictures  Grocery estimation worksheet  Test for assessment

Instructional Activities  Students gather in a circle, observe and write down estimates and name on paper of how many jelly beans in the jar.  After placing the paper in the jar, teacher will select a student to read the estimates.  Students will take turns selecting estimates from jar and place estimates in order.  Teacher begins questioning (See question slide).

Instructional Activities  Have students sort using various methods.  Count how many jelly beans are in the jar as a class by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s, or 10’s  One student writes the actual number of jelly beans on a slip of paper and sequence it in the row of estimates.  Students will identify if the actual number is odd or even and who made the closest estimate to the actual number.

Instructional Activities  The teacher will facilitate a class discussion on the rationale on determining the winner.  The winner gets half of the jelly beans.  As a class, students practice counting by either 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, or 25s dividing the jelly beans in half.  The remaining jelly beans are divided equally among the rest of the class.

Questioning  Students will be asked to identify the smallest estimate  Students will be asked to identify the most popular estimate  Students will be asked to identify the least popular estimate  Students will be asked comparison questions. How many more chose 46 than 58?

Scaffolding Activities for At-Risk Students  Use an estimation worksheet with pictures that will provide guidance and help them take notes to form an estimation.  Teacher models how to estimate when looking at a jar while thinking aloud to provide guidance.  Pairing students heterogeneously for support and guidance.

Extension Activities for Gifted Students  Student can graph the class estimations.  Student can estimate height, weight, length of items and compare estimates to the actual results.  Create a grocery estimation worksheet.  The student will have a dollar limit and estimate what items to buy without going over.

Assessment  The students will be given a test to determine if they have learned about estimation.  This test will have two parts: - one part where they work with a partner - one part where they work individually  With a partner, the student will count by fives and tens. Both students will record which numbers the student skips while counting.  Individually, the student will complete the test by answering questions about even and odd numbers and subtraction/addition using estimation.

Conclusion This 2 nd grade lesson plan is fun and exciting. Students will not even realize they are learning while they count and group in sequences to 100, review even/odd numbers, estimate and solve for sums and differences using jelly beans. As for teachers, the plan includes all the necessary elements for a successful lesson. The standards/objectives are met throughout the plan, instructions are clear, and the assessment is directly related to the objectives while meeting the needs of various learners.

References Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education (2004). Mathematics standards of learning enhanced scope and sequence: grade 2. Estimation jar. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from testing/sol/scope_sequence/mathematics_/scopeseq_math2.pdf