Grade: Elementary
Subject: Mathematics

#2213. Estimating Prices

Mathematics, level: Elementary
Posted Mon Apr 16 17:07:53 PDT 2001 by Rebekah Manwiller (BekahManwiller@cedarville.edu).
Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH
Materials Required: Newspapers, Pencils, Paper, Scissors, Glue
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Concepts Taught: Rounding Prices, Adding Prices

OBJECTIVES:
§ Practice listing skills by making a list of things to buy
§ Practice estimation skills by rounding the prices of items on list
§ Practice small motor skills by cutting and pasting
§ Practice chart-making skills by putting items and prices into a chart
§ Review addition by adding prices of items
PREREQUISITE LEARNING: Estimation
THE LESSON:
Introductory Activity -- Make a list of 10 items you would like to have.
Step 1: Get a newspaper and cut out pictures or words to represent each item on your list -- look specifically in ad sections). If you can't find an item, modify your list.
Step 2: Find a price in the newspaper for each item and write it on a slip of paper. Write the name of the item on the back of the slip of paper so you can know what price belongs to what item.
Step 3: Combine your pictures and actual prices into a chart, leaving space for a third column.
Step 4: In the third column, estimate a rounded price for each item to the nearest dollar.
** MAKE SURE THAT ALL DECIMALS IN PRICES ARE LINED UP!! **
Step 5: Add up the prices in the actual prices column and in the estimated prices column to see how much money it would cost to get all of your items.
Extension Activity:
Figure out the difference between actual price column and estimated price column.
Organize your chart by price (lowest priced item on top, highest price on bottom). Figure out how many different things you could get with $100.
Evaluation:
Students will make a chart of items, actual prices, and correctly rounded prices.
Students will correctly add the prices in both columns.
Checklist:
Were all students successful and on-task?
What went well about the lesson?
What didn't go well?
What will I do differently next time?