Activity Title - Math Without Paper?

Goal/Objective

To use mental math to estimate correct answers.

Lesson Outline/Introduction

Everyday, people use their ability to estimate to figure such things as how much their grocery bill is going to be at the store or how long it will take to complete a task. This skill is sometimes taken for granted

Activity

Give students a list of things to estimate. Have students turn in their written estimates. Next, assign the students the same problems, but with the exact answers. Award the student with the most correct answers.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Have students use estimation skills in evaluating the correctness of their answers on worksheets or practice tests. Discuss the importance of mental math in both real life situations as well as on the GED tests.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

Real-Life Connection

Bring in the newspaper ads that feature flooring such as carpet, hardwood floors, tile or linoleum. Have students estimate the cost to re-tile or re-carpet the classroom. The student should first estimate the size of the classroom to determine the area of the classroom. Then using estimation, determine the cost of flooring the classroom. Then have the class determine the actual cost by using a tape measure and calculator.

Activity Title - Math Without Paper?

Introduction

Ask: How far is it from your home to school? Answers may include such things as miles, blocks, etc.

Say: Everyday we use estimation skills instead of exact calculations. Estimating the mileage to places, how long it will take us to complete a task, how much our grocery bill will be based on how full the shopping cart is or by the cost of the items, or how heavy something is are all examples of mental math. Now, we are going to use mental math to figure out such things as area, perimeter or volume.

Review area, perimeter and volume with the students. Show them the formulas for solving these problems.

Main Activity

Say: We will be working on estimation skills today.
Ask: How do you use estimation in your everyday life? Write the answers on the board or chart paper.
Say: Let's see how good your skills really are. Today, we are going to use some common skills of estimation. Divide the class into small group with 3 to 4 students per group. Provide the student with a short list of things to estimate. After the students have completed their work have them share their answers with the class.
Ask: Do you see any differences in the estimation of each group? Then have the student find the exact measures for the figures. Write their answers next to their estimation on the board. Then compare the actual calculation with the estimations.

Closure/Conclusion

Ask: How will the skill of estimation be helpful when completing a timed test? Discuss how estimation skills are important not only in real life but also on the completion of the GED tests.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Ask: How many of you have ever had a "home-improvement" project? Discuss the types of math skills that are necessary to complete such projects as wallpapering, laying flooring, building a desk, etc. Bring in newspapers and different measuring tools. Have students estimate how much it will be to change the flooring in the classroom and then find the actual cost.