Estimating is very important. You do it all the time. But don't try to estimate how often, because you usually do it without even thinking about it! You estimate about how long it will take you to get ready to come to the Annex and then wake up according to that estimate. (Sometimes that one's a little off.) You might estimate the cost of things you want to buy at the store to see if you have enough money to buy them. Sometimes you may have to make more difficult estimates, and you may not know how to make them. The following activity gives you a step-by-step way to do these difficult estimates and to become an excellent estimator!

Here is an example of a tricky estimate and a way to go about making it easier:

How much popcorn will members eat at the Home Education Exchange in one week?

Step 1: Think about how much popcorn an average person eats each time at the machine. How many cups to do you think it is? Less than 1/2, between 1/2 and 1, or more than 1?

Write down your number.

Step 2: The next question is how many times does the average visitor go to the popcorn machine each week? Some may go more often than others and some may not eat any popcorn at all. You want the average amount.

Write down your number.

Step 3: You now have an estimate of the amount of popcorn a person eats at each visit to the machine and how many times per day they go to the machine. If you multiply the your estimates from step 1 and 2, you get an estimate of the amount an average person eats each week.

Write down your number.

Step 4: Now that you have the average for one person, multiply that number by the number of people that come to the Annex each week. Remember, a parent comes too, and sometimes little brothers and sisters. (Figure we have 25 regular students)

Write down your number.

There, now you have some idea of how much popcorn Trudi needs to buy, so we don't run out!

How may drinking cups will we have to order this year?

How many times does the front door to the Annex open and close in a week?

How many LOGOs do we need if ten students build a robot?