To summarize the lesson, allow students time to discuss the following prompt with a partner. Then, have volunteers share their ideas.
- Think about using numbers. Give two examples of times when it is important to use exact numbers. (Possible responses: An exact number is needed when paying bills; when keeping track of the score for a sports game; when cutting material for a pattern; and often when measuring ingredients for baking.)
- Now, give two examples of times when it is okay to use rounded numbers. (Possible responses: After using a calculator, estimate to make sure we punched the buttons correctly; estimate to find out if we have enough money to buy something at the store; estimate the amount a school spends on electricity in a year to budget for next year; estimate the value of five rare stamps, since the value may change from day to day.)
These questions probe whether students are beginning to understand the underlying reasons for finding estimates as opposed to finding exact answers. Administer the Big Numbers Quiz to assess students' progress on the content of this lesson.
Use the Big Numbers Quiz Assessment Master with Feedback Box to assess student's abilities to read and write numbers to the millions [E1]; compare and order large numbers [E2]; represent large numbers using a number line [E3]; round quantities using benchmark numbers [E6]; and estimate sums and differences for large numbers [E9].
The Workshop in Lesson 7 provides targeted practice.
