Lesson 5 Estimate on a Number Line

    • Let’s estimate numbers on a number line.

Warm-up Estimation Exploration: What Number?

What number could this be?

Number line. Scale 0 to 40. Point plotted between 0 and 40.

  1. Record an estimate that is:

    too low

    about right

    too high

  2. Record an estimate that is:

    too low

    about right

    too high

Activity 1 Estimate the Numbers

  1. What number could this be?

    Number line. Scale 30 to 60 by 5's. Evenly spaced tick marks. Point plotted between 50 and 55.

  2. What number could this be?

    Number line. Scale 0 to 30, by 10's. Point plotted between 20 and 30.

  3. What number could this be?

    Number line. Scale 0 to 100, by 50's. One unlabeled point.

  4. What number could this be?

    Number line. Scale 0 to 60. Point plotted between 0 and 60.

  5. Which estimate are you most confident in? Why?

  6. Which estimate are you least confident in? Why?

Activity 2 Order the Numbers

  • Pick a card and place it on the number line.

  • Explain your thinking.

  • As a group, revise the position of any cards.

  • Repeat until all cards are placed.

  • Draw and label points to represent each number on the number line.

Practice Problem

Problem 1

What number could this be? Explain your reasoning.

Number line. Scale 30 to 70. No tick marks. Point plotted between 30 and 70.