Teach Estimation Strategies Alongside Your Multiplying Decimals Unit!

Multiplying decimals is a new concept that is traditionally introduced in 5th grade. Students may learn different methods, 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 gas tank can hold 18.5 gallons. If a gas station fills 94 cars a day, about how many gallons of gas does a gas 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 5th Grade Math 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 can 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 your personal drive before accessing it.

This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a teacher in Colorado and 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!

teaching resource

Estimating Quotients Doodle Notes for 5th Grade

Engage your 5th-grade students with this set of doodle notes when teaching them how to estimate quotients.

teaching resource

Estimating Quotients Task Cards for 5th Grade

Give your 5th-grade students the opportunity to use rounding and compatible numbers to answer estimation questions with this set of 24 task cards.

teaching resource

Estimating Decimal Sums and Differences – Worksheet

Refine rounding skills with an estimating decimal sums and differences worksheet.