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783 original hands-on activities for kids (as well as a compiled archive of ideas from all over the web) with a strong focus on inquiry, design thinking, problem-solving skills, imaginative / creative thinking, nature, drama, learning with movement, music, arts integration and PLAY! - Creative Genius Kids! - for teachers and homeschoolers
Showing posts with label estimating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label estimating. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Seed Investigation
Labels:
estimating,
food science,
measuring,
plants,
science
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Soda Math - Kid Style
Split students up into groups. Give each group some sugar packets to experiment with multiplication strategies. How many packs do they have? Tell them that each pack has 4 grams of sugar. How can they figure out how many grams of sugar they have?
Once they have figured it out, give each group a different can of soda. Can they figure out how many packs are in their can of soda? First, have them estimate! Then, they solve! They could use their multiplication strategies. More advanced students might figure out that they can get their answer faster by dividing. Students collaborate and problem solve to get the solution! Was their estimated number close to the final result?
Check out Dan Meyers' 3 Acts for videos to go along with this lesson!
Once they have figured it out, give each group a different can of soda. Can they figure out how many packs are in their can of soda? First, have them estimate! Then, they solve! They could use their multiplication strategies. More advanced students might figure out that they can get their answer faster by dividing. Students collaborate and problem solve to get the solution! Was their estimated number close to the final result?
Check out Dan Meyers' 3 Acts for videos to go along with this lesson!
Labels:
division,
estimating,
math,
multiplication
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Raisin Math
Give each student a small box of raisins.
First, kids estimate the number of raisins in their box.
Then, they count up their raisins and write down the number.
They graph their answer on a line plot.
You can create a line plot with post-it notes or have kids use round stickers to plot their number. Check out Teaching to Inspire to see kids in action!
Once all the numbers are on the line plot, find the mean, median, mode, and range!
How many raisins are more likely to be in a mini box?!
Then, observe your raisins! Do some boxes have plumper raisins? Why do some boxes have less?
Compare Raisins
Divide students up into teams of 2. One member gets one brand, the other gets a different brand.
First, kids estimate the number of raisins in their box.
Then, they count up their raisins and write down the number.
How did the brands compare?
They graph their answer on a line plot (use 2 different colored stickers or post-its to keep track of each brand).
Labels:
counting,
estimating,
graphing,
math,
mean/m/m/range
Monday, July 22, 2013
Paper Chain Gang
Kids are given 5 strips of paper. They write something they are really good at on each of their strips. They link their strips together to create a small paper chain. Then, they measure it!
As a class, they help link all the chains together. Use blank strips of paper in between each child's chain. Have kids estimate the length of the giant chain. Then, as a class measure it! Did anyone come close to guessing the actual length of the chain?!
Discussion:
Look at the variety of talents in the room! (Compare the length of their chain to the giant class chain.) If we all work together, we can accomplish anything!
As a class, they help link all the chains together. Use blank strips of paper in between each child's chain. Have kids estimate the length of the giant chain. Then, as a class measure it! Did anyone come close to guessing the actual length of the chain?!
Discussion:
Look at the variety of talents in the room! (Compare the length of their chain to the giant class chain.) If we all work together, we can accomplish anything!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Wind Powered Balloon Squid
materials: balloon, snap top from water bottle, ribbon, sharpie
Click here to learn how to make an air powered balloon boat!
Labels:
adaptations,
air,
animals,
estimating,
math,
matter,
measuring,
motion,
ocean,
science,
spring / summer,
toys,
water
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Map the Solar System
If Earth Was The Size Of A Cherry Tomato - The Solar System with food or candy!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Egg Carton Flyer
Save your egg cartons to construct a flying wing! It soars with the help of a penny inserted in the "cargo bay!" Click here for the template and instructions!
integration:
geometry: angles (best angle for distance)
estimating: distance
measuring: distance
science: potential / kinetic energy / wind
integration:
geometry: angles (best angle for distance)
estimating: distance
measuring: distance
science: potential / kinetic energy / wind
Labels:
angles,
earth day,
easter,
engineering,
estimating,
math,
measuring,
outdoors,
physics,
potential/kinetic energy,
recycling,
science,
spring / summer,
toys,
transportation
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
1 minute
For older kids, have them do 5 activities. Then, have them find the mean, median, mode, and range. They use their score for each activity. (Example: 60 hops, 50 stars, 40 jumping jacks, etc.) They find the m,m,m,and r of 60, 50, 40.....
- or - Choose one activity for the entire class to do in one minute. Then, write their scores on the board and have them figure out the m,m,m, and range.
Labels:
counting,
estimating,
math,
mean/m/m/range,
time
Monday, March 18, 2013
Fruit Snack Math
Write a fraction for each flavor. Then, graph your flavors. How did your bag compare to your peers? Do you think that the flavors are evenly distributed?
Lay your fruit snacks out an a straight line. Can you find something that is the same length? (measure)
Find a friend and compare your fruit snacks. Who had more cherry? Did you have the same amount of cherry? Compare each flavor using greater than, less than, or equal to signs.
Create a multiplication array with your fruit snacks. Then, practice division. How can you divide your snacks evenly if you shared your bag with your mom and dad?
Write addition and subtraction number sentences: What is the sum of your strawberry and grape (2+3=5)? If you ate all of your orange and lemon, how many fruit snacks would be left (12-5=7)?
Make different patterns with your colors. Did you have any difficulty because of the colors in your bag?
More fruit snack activities:
Fruit by the Foot Ruler - measure by the foot
Chopsticks! - practice place value with swedish fish
Growing Gummy Bear - grow a gummy in water and measure!
Gummy Worms - How long can a gummy worm be stretched?
Fruit Roll Up - Area/Perimeter
Labels:
addition,
arrays,
division,
estimating,
fractions,
graphing,
greater than / less than,
math,
measuring,
multiplication,
subtraction
Monday, February 18, 2013
Kid Engineering
Design Squad Nation - Lots of hands on projects, and a great place for kids to collaborate with other students from around the country.
Featured above:
Treasure Grab - Kids investigate magnetism with this measuring construction project!
Indoor Slingshot - Angle Exploration and potential / kinetic energy! Kids measure the distance their object is propelled. What angle worked best?
Air Cannon - Estimate and measure, while exploring air pressure. Kids blow up a bag, smash it, and a pom pom ball goes flying!
WYE_Lance has a special showcase of kid engineering projects featured on Instructables: Project-Based Engineering.
Featured above:
Truss Bridges - Kids explore symmetry and angles as they create a unique popsicle stick structure.
Rubber Band Helicopter - How high will it go? How long will it stay up?
Sophie's World - Balloon Boat (top right image)
Kids investigate the power of air, as they estimate and measure the distance their boat floats!
Featured above:
Treasure Grab - Kids investigate magnetism with this measuring construction project!
Indoor Slingshot - Angle Exploration and potential / kinetic energy! Kids measure the distance their object is propelled. What angle worked best?
Air Cannon - Estimate and measure, while exploring air pressure. Kids blow up a bag, smash it, and a pom pom ball goes flying!
WYE_Lance has a special showcase of kid engineering projects featured on Instructables: Project-Based Engineering.
Featured above:
Truss Bridges - Kids explore symmetry and angles as they create a unique popsicle stick structure.
Rubber Band Helicopter - How high will it go? How long will it stay up?
Sophie's World - Balloon Boat (top right image)
Kids investigate the power of air, as they estimate and measure the distance their boat floats!
Labels:
air,
angles,
building,
engineering,
estimating,
magnetism,
math,
measuring,
motion,
physics,
potential/kinetic energy,
science,
spring / summer,
symmetry,
toys,
transportation
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Matter Race
Give each child a sandwich baggie with an ice cube in it. Kids race to melt the ice cube in the bag, transforming their solid into a liquid. Once they have a liquid, the teacher adds a piece of an alka seltzer tablet to their bag - presto: gas (their bag will expand and the contents in their bag will fizz and bubble)! Math - Estimate how long they think it will take them to melt their cube.
Above is a recording sheet for students to use as they are melting their ice cube. Click here to download! Click here for a checklist to assess your students. Also, check out Bag Bomb!
Labels:
estimating,
friction,
games,
heat,
matter,
science,
thermal energy
Friday, February 8, 2013
Cloud Racing
Try making other types of cotton ball clouds (cirrus and stratus by pulling the cotton ball). Click here for an example. Have kids predict which cloud they think will go the fastest. If cirrus went up against a cumulus cloud, which one would win?!
Next, have each kid predict which cloud will go the farthest: Go out into a large hall way. Blow each type of cotton ball cloud using a straw. Measure the distance each cloud traveled. Which cloud traveled the farthest distance?
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Mardi Gras Bead Geometry
First, have kids make an inference about what they think each color of Mardi Gras stands for (green = faith, gold = power, and purple = justice). Next, have kids estimate how many beads they think are on the necklace. Who had the best guess?
Geometry: Split students up into teams. Have students make 3 shapes out of the necklaces (triangle, circle, and rectangle). Next, have them measure their shapes with a ruler. Then, have them figure out the area and perimeter (or circumference).
Labels:
area / perimeter,
circumference,
estimating,
geometry,
mardi gras,
math,
measuring
Sand Castle Experiment
Labels:
absorption,
counting,
estimating,
fractions,
math,
measuring,
money,
outdoors,
science,
spring / summer,
surface tension,
water
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Guess Who?! - Teeth
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photos via cc: mouth 1 - Dana Beveridge, mouth 2 - Chris Penny, mouth 3 - Izik |
This fun idea comes from Fall into First! Take photos (or have students take photos) of students' toothless mouths (showing their teeth). Next, ask kids to estimate the total number of teeth that have been lost in the class (sum of all their teeth lost). Have students go around the room and tally how many teeth each of their peers has lost. Have them count all of their tally marks and figure out the total. Whose prediction was the closet? Then, as a class, create a graph of how many teeth each child is missing. Hang the photos up, as well as the graph. Students try to guess who's mouth is whose based on their knowledge of how many teeth each of their peers has lost, as well as their keen observation skills.
Science experiment - Brush your teeth! - Part 1 and Part 2
Labels:
bulletin board,
estimating,
food science,
graphing,
math,
photography,
tally
Paperclip Math
2. The Longest Chain - First, have students estimate how many paperclips they think they can link in a certain amount of time. Then, set a timer and have students make a chain as quickly as possible! Measure the paperclip chains. Who created the longest? Who's guess was the closest to their actual number?
3. Just my size - Have kids estimate how many paperclips it would take to create a chain the same height as them.
4. Mean, Median, Mode, Range - Race to make a chain! When time is up, kids count how many clips they linked. Write down the number of clips they linked on the board from lowest to highest. Next, find the mean, add up all their scores and divide the sum by how many teams there were. Then, circle the number that falls in the middle (median). Mode - did anyone have the same number of paper clips on their chain? Finally, find the range: subtract the lowest score from the highest.
5. Paperclip patterns: link colors to create a pattern.
6. Floating Paperclip! - Visit Science Bob for a paperclip science experiment about surface tension.
Labels:
estimating,
fact families,
math,
mean/m/m/range,
measuring,
patterning,
sink/float
Monday, January 21, 2013
Stuffed Pets
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monkey via cuddle works |
This is a lesson I'm creating for one of my education courses. You can view the original post I wrote here.
Have students bring in a pet stuffed animal from their home. Ask students if they think they can determine an object’s weight and size without using standard tools. Write the children’s answers down on the SmartBoard. Then, try out their answers to see if they are right. Next, read the book Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy to show students ways to measure a pet without standard tools.
Have students predict which pet is the longest, tallest, shortest, widest, and thinnest. Choose a nonstandard tool for measuring. Have students record their pet's measurements (ear, eye, nose, mouth, head, paw, arm, leg, tail, body). Also, have them write down the name of the longest, tallest, shortest, widest, and thinnest pet in the class.
Next, they
will estimate which pet is the heaviest and which is the lightest. For science, construct a balancing scale. Provide the materials
and have students infer how they can use the material to create a weighing
device. Then, weigh your pets! Have them write down the pets' names in order from lightest to heaviest. Afterwards, have them weigh their pet and compare it with pennies. What does their pet weigh in pennies?
Then,
students will describe their pet’s attributes using a bubble map. What makes
their pet unique? Then, they will compare their pet to a friend's pet using a
Venn diagram. Once they compare with one friend, they will create a fraction by
finding other peers whose pets have similar and different attributes.
Labels:
adaptations,
estimating,
fractions,
inferencing,
math,
measuring,
reading,
weight,
writing
Friday, January 4, 2013
Popped vs. Unpopped
Older students: Which brand pops the most kernels?! Split students up into four groups. You will need 4 single serving (mini) bags of popcorn (2 different brands).
1 group - brand x
2 group - brand x
3 group - brand y
4 group brand y
First, have students estimate how many pieces of popcorn will pop in their group's bag. How many kernels won't pop in their bag? Microwave each bag for the same amount of time and give each group their bag. Have them count the popcorn (split popcorn into groups, so each person is in charge of counting; then, they combine their number to figure out the total). Next, have them write the fraction for popped and unpopped. Which group's guess was the closest? Which brand reigns supreme? Did the groups with the same brand have similar results? Did one of the brands have completely different results? Which brand is most reliable?
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Leaf Investigator
Visit Education.com to find out how to figure out a tree's age by its circumference.
Labels:
autumn,
circumference,
counting,
estimating,
math,
measuring,
plants,
role play,
science
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Slingshots and Catapults
Demonstrate projectile motion, exertion, force, velocity, potential / kinetic energy, and angles with slingshots and catapults! How much force is needed to project objects of different weights? What angle will fly your object the farthest?
As a class, or an individual homework project, have kids design a catapult or slingshot. Experiment using different amounts of force. What angle creates the best launch? Try launching objects of different weights. Did heavier objects need more force and require more energy? Measure the distance of the objects you launch!
Featured above with how to instructions:
Slingshots
Hand Held Classic Slingshot - The Risky Kids. You can also make a pvc pipe hand held slingshot, click here for instructions!
Chair Slingshot - Kitchen Pantry Scientist
Pyramid Slingshot - Visit DIY Life
Construct an oversized slingshot for water balloons, balls, toys or anything else you'd like to launch! Visit Instructables, click here and here for two different designs! You can also purchase one from SSWW (featured above).
Indoor Slingshot - Design Squad Nation
Catapults
Ping Pong Ball Scoop Catapult, as well as a wide assortment of designs, click here!
Popsicle Stick Bottle Cap Catapult - Do It and How
Tissue Box Pencil - Disney Family Fun
There are tons of different designs for slingshots and catapults! You can use different components from various designs to create your very own unique launcher!
As a class, or an individual homework project, have kids design a catapult or slingshot. Experiment using different amounts of force. What angle creates the best launch? Try launching objects of different weights. Did heavier objects need more force and require more energy? Measure the distance of the objects you launch!
Featured above with how to instructions:
Slingshots
Hand Held Classic Slingshot - The Risky Kids. You can also make a pvc pipe hand held slingshot, click here for instructions!
Chair Slingshot - Kitchen Pantry Scientist
Pyramid Slingshot - Visit DIY Life
Construct an oversized slingshot for water balloons, balls, toys or anything else you'd like to launch! Visit Instructables, click here and here for two different designs! You can also purchase one from SSWW (featured above).
Indoor Slingshot - Design Squad Nation
Catapults
Ping Pong Ball Scoop Catapult, as well as a wide assortment of designs, click here!
Popsicle Stick Bottle Cap Catapult - Do It and How
Tissue Box Pencil - Disney Family Fun
There are tons of different designs for slingshots and catapults! You can use different components from various designs to create your very own unique launcher!
Labels:
angles,
building,
engineering,
estimating,
force,
levers,
math,
measuring,
motion,
outdoors,
physics,
potential/kinetic energy,
push/pull,
science,
simple machines,
spring / summer,
toys,
weight
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