Problems with Missing Information
10 min
Narrative
The purpose of an Estimation Exploration is to practice the skill of estimating a reasonable answer based on experience and known information.
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display the image.
- “What is an estimate that’s too high? Too low? About right?”
- 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
- “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
- 1 minute: partner discussion
- Record responses.
Student Task
Each regular pumpkin in this field weighs between 4 and 10 kilograms.
How many kilograms do you think the giant pumpkin weighs?
Record an estimate that is:
| too low | about right | too high |
|---|---|---|
Sample Response
Sample responses:
- Too low: less than 100 kilograms
- About right: 200–400 kilograms
- Too high: more than 500 kilograms
Synthesis
- “How did you use the image or what you know about pumpkins or other melons to help you make estimates?”
- Consider asking:
- “Is anyone’s estimate less than 100 kilograms? Is anyone’s estimate greater than 500 kilograms?”
- “Based on this discussion, does anyone want to revise their estimate?”
Standards
Addressing
- 3.MD.2·Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), and liters (l). Add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve one-step word problems involving masses or volumes that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as a beaker with a measurement scale) to represent the problem.
- 3.MD.A.2·Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), and liters (l).<span>Excludes compound units such as <span class="math">\(\hbox{cm}^3\)</span> and finding the geometric volume of a container.</span> Add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve one-step word problems involving masses or volumes that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as a beaker with a measurement scale) to represent the problem.<span>Excludes multiplicative comparison problems (problems involving notions of “times as much”); see Glossary, Table 2.</span>