The class was divided in stations.  Each station was given a container filled with the following: coins, pins, paper clips and butterfly pins.  Students had to write (on their mini whiteboards) how many they thought there were in each container without counting; thus estimating (guessing).

After, students were asked to say what made them guess that number (their observations).  Some noted that since coins are larger than pins they came to the conclusion that there were less coins.  Others noticed that even though two of the containers were the same, one was filled slightly more.

Finally, they counted the objects found in each container to check their estimate.  Furthermore they linked what they were doing in class with the outside world as they noticed that sometimes in competitions people have to estimate how many balloons, tickets …are there in a box. 

Submitted by Ms Miranda Cauchi, Yr 3.1