The students get into pairs and check the number of jellybeans the other child held. The students are to cut out a small paper bean and write the actual number held onto the paper bean, then glue it to the paper. The teacher will create a large chart which displays children's estimations and actual findings. The children are to arrange their hands in on a class graph. Students are to identify the smallest number of beans held, and place the hand in the first column of the chart.
Students discuss possible ways to arrange the hands into columns.
Once students agree on how many numbers are assigned to a column, they tape the hands onto the chart. A class discussion will focus on the various sizes of hands and how many beans were held. Have students discuss possible reasons why this may have occurred. To find more accurate data, have students trace their hands again, this time keeping their fingers together. Talk about the outcomes of the second activity.