Students have been exploring different estimation strategies (front-end rounding, compensation, and compatible numbers) to solve computation problems with large numbers and a variety of word problems. Rounding has been a valuable mathematical skill to support students in their estimation work, as well as basic computational skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), which are all encouraged to be practiced at home.
As a family give the questions in Big and Small Numbers in the Living World from NRICH a try. The questions provide fun and interesting estimation problems that encourage students to practice their computation skills with large numbers and apply appropriate problem solving strategies. Remember there is no absolutely 'correct' answer to many of these questions, rather, they can be productively used for discussion as a family: each family member could create their own answers and then take turns justifying their solutions. Do you agree with one another? Disagree? Is there an obvious best 'collective' answer? Some key questions NRICH recommends:
As a family give the questions in Big and Small Numbers in the Living World from NRICH a try. The questions provide fun and interesting estimation problems that encourage students to practice their computation skills with large numbers and apply appropriate problem solving strategies. Remember there is no absolutely 'correct' answer to many of these questions, rather, they can be productively used for discussion as a family: each family member could create their own answers and then take turns justifying their solutions. Do you agree with one another? Disagree? Is there an obvious best 'collective' answer? Some key questions NRICH recommends:
- What assumptions will you need to make in this question?
- How accurate do you think you answer is?
- What order of magnitude checks could you make to test that your answer is sensible?