Rounding to Estimate and Approximate - PowerPoint

This set of teaching resources is aimed at Year 5 students to help them understand the concepts of rounding to estimate and approximate answers for addition and subtraction. The material explains that estimating is about making a rough calculation, while approximating is about finding a value that is close to the actual figure but not exact. The resources illustrate practical uses for these skills, such as quickly checking if you have enough money while shopping. Students are shown how to determine the most suitable level of rounding for a given calculation, whether to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand, to strike a balance between ease and accuracy. For example, rounding the numbers 34,791 and 18,929 to the nearest hundred allows students to mentally calculate their sum as 53,700, which is very close to the actual sum of 53,720.

The resources include a variety of exercises where students practice rounding numbers to estimate sums and differences in real-life scenarios, such as calculating the total distance travelled on a trip or the total number of viewers for different films. The exercises are designed to reinforce the concept that rounding can simplify complex calculations while still providing a reasonable approximation of the answer. Additionally, the resources offer word problems and number line estimations to further develop students' rounding skills. By engaging with these activities, students learn to use rounding as a tool for efficient problem-solving in everyday situations.