Estimate with Your Hands!

Science Grades 1st Grade 2:54 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to estimate the size of objects using your hands and fingers!

Video Resource

Core Science First Grade Estimation

Science Theater 2020

Duration: 2:54
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Estimation
  • Measurement
  • Using body parts as measurement tools

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define estimation.
  • Students will be able to use their fingers and hands to estimate the size of small objects.
  • Students will be able to compare their estimations with actual measurements using a ruler.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what it means to guess. Explain that estimation is like making a smart guess about how big something is. Show them different objects and ask if they can guess how big they are.
  • Watch the Video (7 mins)
    Play the 'Core Science First Grade Estimation' video. Tell students to pay attention to how the person in the video uses their hands to guess how big things are.
  • Hands-On Practice (15 mins)
    Have students practice estimating the size of different objects in the classroom (e.g., pencils, erasers, books) using their fingers, knuckles, and hand spans. After they estimate, have them use a ruler to measure the objects and compare their estimates to the actual measurements.
  • Wrap-up and Discussion (3 mins)
    Discuss what they learned. What objects were easy to estimate? What objects were hard? Why? Why is estimation a useful skill?

Interactive Exercises

  • Estimating Scavenger Hunt
    Give each student a list of objects to find in the classroom or at home. For each object, they should first estimate its size using their hands and then measure it with a ruler or measuring tape. They should record both their estimate and the actual measurement.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to 'estimate'?
  • How can our hands help us guess how big something is?
  • Is it okay if our estimate isn't exactly right? Why or why not?

Skills Developed

  • Estimation skills
  • Measurement skills
  • Observation skills

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does it mean to estimate?

Correct Answer: To guess how big something is

Question 2:

Which part of your body can you use to estimate?

Correct Answer: Your fingers

Question 3:

If something is about as long as your finger, how do you know how big it is?

Correct Answer: By measuring with a ruler

Question 4:

What tool can you use to check your estimate?

Correct Answer: A ruler

Question 5:

Is it okay if your estimate is not exactly right?

Correct Answer: Yes, it's just a guess

Question 6:

What is something you can estimate the size of in the classroom?

Correct Answer: A pencil

Question 7:

If a pencil is about two fingers long, about how long is the pencil?

Correct Answer: Kind of long

Question 8:

What do you call the space from your finger to your wrist?

Correct Answer: A knuckle

Question 9:

If you have bigger hands, what will that do to your estimates?

Correct Answer: Make them bigger

Question 10:

Can you estimate how big you are?

Correct Answer: Yes

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

When you ________, you guess how big something is.

Correct Answer: estimate

Question 2:

You can use your ________ to estimate the size of things.

Correct Answer: fingers

Question 3:

A ________ can help you check how good your estimate is.

Correct Answer: ruler

Question 4:

Estimation is like making a smart ________.

Correct Answer: guess

Question 5:

Is OK if your estimate is not __________ correct.

Correct Answer: exactly

Question 6:

If something is about the same size as your finger, your finger IS your _______________ to measure.

Correct Answer: tool

Question 7:

The distance from your fingers to your palm is called your ___________.

Correct Answer: hand

Question 8:

If something is the same size from one knuckle on your fingers to the next, you can use that to _________.

Correct Answer: estimate

Question 9:

If something can fit in your hand it is considered ___________.

Correct Answer: small

Question 10:

It is a good idea to check your guess with a ___________ to see how close your estimate was.

Correct Answer: ruler

Educational Standards

1.PS4:Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Teaching Materials

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