Intermediate
40 mins
Teacher/Student led
+70 XP
Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.

Estimate, Group, Count: Tens Make Big Counts Easy

In this lesson you will estimate how many buttons or counters have spilled out. Then group them into tens to make counting easier and quicker. Finally read any counters left over as the units to find the exact number.

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    Estimation game
    Estimation game

    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    Illustration for Getting StartedAn estimate is a careful guess before you count. The button tin from the art press spills across the desk. More than 20 or fewer? More than 50? Hold your estimate quietly in your head. No counting yet.

    2 - Watch and Notice ~8 mins

    Two spills of counters. Each one shows its true count, so make a careful estimate before we look. Then we split the count into tens and units: 32 is 10, 20, 30 and 2 more. The leftovers (the ones that do not make a full ten) are the units.

    Now a bigger spill. Estimate first, then split the true count into tens and units.

    3 - Try It Together ~8 mins

    A new spill of counters. Make a silent estimate first. Then we reveal the true count, compare it with your estimate, and split it into tens and units.

    Estimate, then group and count

    4 - Class Challenge ~10 mins

    Today we work through these sets together. Estimate first, then check. How many full tens are in the true count, and how many units?

    Estimate, group, count

    5 - What Did We Notice? ~3 mins

    MATHS TALK

    How does grouping into tens make a big count quick and sure?

    Pupil practice
    Module 4 · Place Value: Tens and Units to 99 Number
    Lesson 47 · Estimate, Group, Count: Tens Make Big Counts Easy
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