What Is Estimation? Kid-Friendly Definition

Looking for an easy way to explain estimation to your students? Try this definition from our teacher team!

Estimating is a quick way to get a rough idea of a number or amount without doing specific calculations. It’s helpful in both math and real-life situations. You can estimate with addition problems, subtraction problems and even multiplication or division problems.

Estimation is very useful when you need to get quick answers. There are several ways to estimate, such as rounding numbers, using compatible numbers and calculating with benchmark numbers.

Let’s Estimate – Multiplication Style!

As students continue their study of estimation with all four operations, they learn to use compatible numbers, benchmark numbers and rounding to estimate the answer to different problems. Teach Starter has created a set of differentiated worksheets that are suitable to use with your year 4 and 5 students as they are learning how to use rounding when estimating with multiplication.

With this teacher-created resource, you will receive 3 double-sided worksheets that increase with difficulty. Students will: 

• Round each factor and determine the estimated product.
• Determine 2 factors that could be used to reach an estimated product.
• Determine if an answer is reasonable or not.
• Solve word problems.

 Each worksheet is designated with either 1, 2 or 3 stars in the upper right-hand corner.

• One Star – Uses multiplication problems with a single-digit factor and a 4-digit factor
• Two Sars – Uses multiplication problems with a single-digit factor and a 4-digit factor as well as 2-digit x 2-digit
• Three Stars – Uses multiplication problems with a single-digit factor and a 4-digit factor and a two-digit factor x a 2 or 3-digit factor

How to Get Your Estimation Worksheets

If you are ready to download this set of differentiated worksheets, head on over to the green download button. Choose from the quick-print PDF document or the editable Google Slides File. If selecting the Google Slides option, please note that you will first be prompted to make a copy of the document to your personal drive before accessing it.

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

Additional Resources For Your Estimation Unit

Are you looking for some additional resources to fill your estimation plans? Check out some of our suggested resources below!

teaching resource

Coffee Shop Calculations – Estimation With Decimals Task Cards

Download this set of 24 task cards to help your students practise estimating decimal sums and differences with benchmark numbers.

teaching resource

Estimating Quotients Task Cards

Give your students the opportunity to use rounding and compatible numbers to answer estimation questions with this set of 24 task cards.

teaching resource

Estimating Sums and Differences Differentiated Worksheets

Teach your students how to round and use compatible numbers to estimate sums and differences with this set of differentiated worksheets.