Guess the Jar
Word of the day: estimate
“How many blocks are in this jar? Don't count. Guess!”
Grab
- a clear jar or bowl
- 15 to 30 small things: blocks, pom-poms, grapes
Do
- Fill the jar. They guess, you guess. Write both numbers down.
- Pour them out and count together, lining them up in rows of 5.
- Who was closer?
- Try again with the same jar but bigger things (apples, toy cars). More or fewer?
The big moment
Pour out the jar and count together.
Ask (guess first, then try)
- Is it more than 10 or less than 10?
- Bigger things in the same jar: more or fewer fit?
What's going on (for you)
Estimating is a smart guess about how many before counting. Lining things up in rows of 5 makes counting easier and is the start of grouping and later multiplication. Bigger things take up more room, so fewer fit.
If they want more
Guess how many steps from the couch to the fridge, then walk it and count.