This 3 part problem solving lesson teaches students to estimate their answers to addition questions by rounding the numbers to the greatest thousand. This process allows them to check the reasonableness of their calculations. In this activity, students must estimate the total price of items to determine which sales people are ripping them off. These are valuable life skills!

New Ontario Curriculum Expectations:

B1.3

round whole numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand, in various contexts

B2.4

represent and solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of whole numbers and decimal numbers, using estimation and algorithms

B2.1

use the properties of operations, and the relationships between operations, to solve problems involving whole numbers and decimal numbers, including those requiring more than one operation, and check calculations

This problem solving approach provides students with the opportunities to apply reasoning skills, select tools, problem solving and computational strategies, create a variety of representations of mathematical ideas, communicate and defend their ideas, and reflect on and monitor their thinking.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Tips Sheet: This detailed guide will provide you with a break down of each part of the lesson . This includes how much time is allocated, what the students and teacher role is, and a list of guiding questions that the teacher could ask students in order to clarify their thinking.

• Problem Solving Checklist: An optional problem solving checklist has been included for your students to use to self assess their work.

• Getting Started: Your students will be lead through a quick warm up activity to activate prior knowledge or review concepts.

• Working On It: Rich problem solving tasks in which students complete with a partner, in a small group, or individually.

• Reflect and Connect: This is a list of things the teacher needs to highlight while students present and share their solutions to the Working On It task. It includes a list of guiding questions to ask while students present solutions to their work. It also includes a list of problem solving strategies that could be identified in the presenting group's or individual's work. This sheet also demonstrates how to effectively display student work in the classroom so that strategies can easily be referenced during other problem solving opportunities.

• Exit Ticket: These problem solving tasks are similar to the one students worked on during the Working On It part of the lesson. Each student will complete the exit ticket independently using the strategies they reviewed in the Reflect and Connect phase. This work is used for assessment purposes and allows the teacher to identify common misconceptions or areas of need. It is also a great opportunity for the teacher to provide individualized descriptive feedback that is directly related to the criteria on the problem solving checklist.

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OTHER MATH ACTIVITIES BY BLUE SKY SCHOLASTICS:

• Finding the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) - Riddle Worksheet
• Solving and Graphing Inequalities involving Two-Steps - Riddle Worksheets
• Solving Inequalities Involving Two-Steps and Whole Numbers - Riddle Worksheet
• Solving Two-Step Inequalities Riddle Activity Worksheet
• Adding and Subtracting Monomials with a degree of 1 - Riddle Worksheet
• Algebra Code breaking: Solving Equations with Unknown Variables
• Solve Equations with Unknown Variable - Algebra Riddle Worksheet
• Probability End of the Unit Summative Assessment Task for Grade 6
• Probability End of the Unit Summative Assessment Task for Grade 7
• Probability and Frequency Tables - A Problem Solving Activity
• Comparing Theoretical Probabilities - A Problem Solving Activity
• Using a probability number line to describe the likelihood of an event occurring
• Pentomino Puzzles using Transformations
• Building Graphing Skills
• Transformations - Performing Rotations in Geometry - 3 Act It out activities
• Converting Fractions to Percentages - A Math Problem Solving Activity
• Finding the Percent of a Number - A Problem Solving Activity
• Co-create and Apply Math Problem Solving Success Criteria
• Reflections of Shapes - Mystery Picture in the 1st Quadrant
• Reflections of Shapes - Mystery Picture In 4 Quadrants
• Using Percent Benchmarks to Estimate Quantities - A Problem Solving Activity
• Place Value Expanded Form Powers of 10 Riddle Worksheet
• Place Value Expanded Form Riddle Worksheet
• Algebra Riddles - Solving Equations with Unknown Values
• Translation Mystery Picture In 4 Quadrants
• Comparing Whole Numbers up to 6 or 7 digits - Greater than, Less than
• Translation Anagram Riddle Worksheets
• Math Problem Solving Strategy Stations - Developing Problem Solving Skills
• Changing the Mean with Extreme Values

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