This exercise is one of 13 in Measuring Up , designed to illustrate performance assessment tasks that could be used with fourth graders to support reform efforts in mathematics instruction.
Quantity discounts are available.
The context-setting activity takes one class period, and the paired work the assessment task itself requires a second class period, possibly spilling over into part of a third. Ask students for their estimates of the number of buttons in the class. Give students a few minutes to look around at their own buttons, at the number of buttons that students near them have and to discuss their estimates with students near them. Collect some of their estimates and list them on the board. As students are estimating, some questions and issues will probably arise.