Children should be regularly engaged in estimating both quantities and the results of operations. After several children have had chances to make estimates about numbers like these, they should defend their estimates by giving some rationale for thinking they are close to the actual number. These discussions can be invaluable in helping them to develop good number sense. Technology plays an important role in number sense at these grade levels. Calculators can be wonderful teaching tools when programmed to count forward and backward by some constant.
Children can do the programming easily themselves and try to anticipate the calculator display.
The cumulative progress indicators for grade 4 appear below in boldface type. Each indicator is followed by activities which illustrate how it can be addressed in the classroom in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. Use real-life experiences, physical materials, and technology to construct meanings for whole numbers, commonly used fractions, and decimals. A large component of their early work with number focuses on the various parts into which any given number can be broken. Students play the Broken Key game on their calculators.