Science

: Estimation

Approach: One to one

Level: Year 4 & year 8

Resources:	6mm x 16cm wooden rod; small bottle containing 30ml water; 15cm diameter wire circle (year 8 only); video showing a swimmer swimming 25m. Download the videoclip 2.3meg (requires QuickTime plug-in)

Questions / instructions:
In this activity I am going to ask you to estimate some measurements.

Make your best guess at the answers to the questions.
We won't use any measuring instruments.

As we do each question, I'll get you to write your answers on the answer sheet.

% responses

1. How many centimetres long do you think the rod is?

within 20% of 16cm
20–40% out

26
42

45
42

2. How many grams does the rod weigh?

within 20% of 2.5g
20–40% out

25
3

27
2

3. What do you think is the temperature of the rod?

10–24ºC
0–9º or 25–30ºC

13
50

35
52

4. How many millilitres of water is in the bottle?

within 20% of 30ml
20–40% out

6
6

14
14

5. What is the temperature of the water in the bottle?
(You can take the lid off and test it.)

10–24ºC
0–9º or 25–30ºC

5
56

22
63

6. How many seconds did the swimmer take.

within 20% of 16secs
20–40% out

26
29

47
32

year 4 only
7. How tall do you think I am?

within 30cm

Tell me how tall I am in centimetres. I'll stand up

30–60cm out

year 8 only
8. What is the length of the wire circle?

within 20% of 47cm
20–40% out

29
44

9. What is the weight (mass) of the wire circle?

within 20% of 28g
20–40% out

9
6

10. What is the area of the bottom of the water bottle?

within 20% of 7cm
20–40% out

14
19