Printable blank gumball machine (free printable available here)
Colored pencils or crayons
Small objects or shapes of varying sizes (e.g., paper circles, stickers)
Paper and pencils for recording estimates
Introduction:
Explain the concept of estimation and its importance in everyday life.
Introduce the activity as a fun way to practice estimating how many items it takes to fill a shape.
Activity Setup:
Provide each student with a printable blank gumball machine.
Show them a selection of small objects or shapes of varying sizes that they can use to fill the gumball machine (e.g., paper circles, stickers).
Making Estimates:
Ask students to guess how many small objects or shapes it will take to fill the gumball machine. They can make separate estimates for different sizes of objects.
Have each student write down their estimates on a piece of paper.
Filling the Shape:
Students will then fill their printable gumball machine with the objects or shapes, counting as they go.
Compare their actual counts to their initial estimates.
Discussion:
Discuss the results as a class. Ask questions like:
How close were your estimates to the actual number?
How did the size of the objects affect your estimate?
What strategies did you use to make your estimate?
Reflection:
Reflect on the activity. Ask students:
What did you learn about making estimates?
What could you do next time to improve your estimate?
How did the size of the objects change the number needed to fill the shape?
Repeat with Variation:
Repeat the activity with different shapes or sizes of objects to give students more practice and help them improve their estimation skills.
Extensions:
Use different shapes such as hearts, stars, or squares to fill, challenging students to adapt their estimation strategies.
Create group activities where students can discuss and share their estimation strategies and results.
Incorporate the activity into a math center where students can independently practice their estimation skills with various shapes and objects.
This activity helps students develop practical estimation skills and spatial reasoning in a fun and engaging way, enhancing their overall number sense and mathematical understanding.