Teach Estimation Strategies Alongside Your Multiplying Decimals Unit!

Students may learn different ways to multiply decimals, such as the box model method, using visual models and, of course, the standard algorithm. Another skill that is important to teach students is how to estimate products when working with decimal multiplication questions. This will give students a quick way to see if their actual answer is in the right ballpark.

To get your mathematicians acclimated with this skill, Teach Starter has developed a set of 24 task cards where students will practice estimating when multiplying with decimals. With this teacher-created resource, students will answer questions such as:

• 4.16 × 9.2 – Estimate the product by rounding.

• Is 24 a reasonable estimated product to the problem 2.65 × 8.31?

• An average fuel tank can hold 70.3 litres. If a petrol station fills 94 cars a day, about how many litres of gas does the petrol station sell? 

This set of task cards also comes with a handy recording sheet for students to write down their answers and an accompanying answer key to make grading fast and easy!

Ways to Use Your Estimating Products Task Cards

If you are looking for some ideas on how to use your shiny new set of task cards, check out some of the suggestions below from our teacher team!

SCOOT!

There are two ways to play Scoot: either the task card can be passed around, or the students can move around. You need to have one task card for each student. Set a timer and every so often say, ‘Scoot!’ When this happens, the students can move to the next card or the card can be passed to the next student.

Bell Ringer

As students enter the classroom, display a task card and instruct them to complete the warm-up in their notebook.

Relay Race

Divide students into two team lines and show a task card to the students at the front of each line. The student that produces the correct answer first wins the task card. The team with the most cards at the end of the game wins!

Download and Print Your Maths Task Cards

If you are ready for your students to try out these estimation questions, head on over to the green download button. Here you will find the option to select the quick-print PDF file or the editable Google Slides document. If choosing the Google Slides option, please note that you will first be prompted to make a copy of the resource to you personal drive before accessing it.

This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Fill Your Classroom With More Teaching Resources!

Are you looking to add some additional estimation resources to your teaching toolkit? Check out some of our suggested activities below!

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