Max Maths, Year 1, Learn together, Estimating numbers to 30

In the 'Max Maths, Year 1' curriculum, young learners are introduced to the concept of estimation, a fundamental skill in developing numerical understanding. Estimation teaches children to make educated guesses about quantities without counting each item individually. In a practical scenario, Padma is curious about the number of jelly beans she has, and she decides to estimate rather than count each one by one. The suggested approach for making an estimate involves counting a small, manageable group of jelly beans first—Padma counts a row of 5. She then uses this as a base to count the total number of rows, multiplying this base number by the number of rows to reach an estimated total.

By counting in multiples of 5 down each row, Padma quickly arrives at an estimated total. It's important to note that when estimating, it's not necessary to ensure that each group has exactly 5 jelly beans; the aim is to get a rough idea of the total number. Padma's method leads her to an estimate of 30 jelly beans. When she counts the actual number, she finds there are 28, showing that her estimate was quite accurate. This exercise illustrates the effectiveness of grouping and counting in fives, a strategy that simplifies the process of estimation and is a good practice for young learners to grasp the concept of approximating numbers up to 30.