Estimation Station
Each week put some objects in a jar and let the students record their estimates of the number of objects in the jar. At the end of the week tally the guesses on the board. The child closest to the correct number can bring items in for the next week. If that child has had a turn he/she can choose a child that hasn't had a turn.

Pumpkin Seeds
Students will examine a pumpkin and make several estimations based on the number of lines around it, its circumference and the number of seeds it has.
* Display the pumpkin. Have students estimate the number of vertical lines on the pumpkin, and record their estimations on chart paper.
* Count all of the lines with the class and record this 'actual' amount. Whose estimation was most accurate? * Trace your finger around the circumference of the pumpkin, and explain that this is the circumference. * Label the pieces of paper with the titles "too short", "just right" and "too long".
* Get children to cut a piece of string based on their estimate of what will be necessary to go around the pumpkin. * Have each child come up with their piece of string and let them try to wrap it around the pumpkin. * Place a piece of tape on the end of their string, and let them tape it to the appropriate paper- "too short"... * Cut out the top of the pumpkin and have students come up, lookinside, and estimate how many seeds are in it. * Record estimations.
* Gut pumpkin, dry out seeds, and count them the next day with the class. Whose estimate was the closest?

Pumpkin Books
Pumpkin Pumpkin, Jeanne Titherington, Pub. Green Willow Books,
The Mare's Egg, retold by Carole Spray, Pub. Camden House,

Potatoes
Use potatoes. First put them in a sack and we play guess what is in the bag. Children may only ask yes and no questions. Then once they have guessed we begin by describing them. Looking at the details .How are they alike and what makes each one different. Then each child can estimate how much their potato weighs. We then weigh it. Discuss whose is the heaviest/lightest. We use yarn to measure how round it is. Then at the end of the week we decorate,using yarn, eyes, and material, the potatoes turn into people. This is a fun way to end the unit.