Part 3 – New Esti-Mysteries and Number Sense Resources Every Day for the Rest of the School Year
Hi, Friends. I’m posting a brand new, free math resource every school day for the rest of the school year. This is part 3 of the series. This effort is my way of spreading encouragement, providing a daily resource to fellow educators, and promoting math joy during a challenging year. I look forward to posting many more resources as we step into Part 3. I hope you visit this post often and download a new resource each and every day.
Since November 1 (when I started this process) there have been over 750,000 free downloads from my blog. Some of those downloads have come from other posts, such as 51 Esti-Mysteries, Splat!, 20 Days of Number Sense, or the Estimation Clipboard. I’m not sure how many have come from New Esti-Mysteries… Every Day. It opens up a really interesting estimation question!
The reason I’m moving to Part 3 is that there are now 91 downloadable resources in the first 2 Parts. The list on each page is lengthy, especially since there is a picture next to every download link, so it helps to occasionally move to a new post. Each new post allows me to put the newest resources within easier reach for everyone. More news on making it as easy as possible below, but first…
If you are looking for resources from a previous post,
The link to Part 1 (November 1 – January 8) is here.
The link to Part 2 (January 11 – February 28) is here.
3 Major Updates
The Quick Access Section
Each week, the latest resources will be in the new Quick Access Section on the top of the blog post. Everything will also be listed in chronological order in the list below, but the Quick Access Section will be a quick and easy way for you to find the latest resources in moments.
The YouTube Videos
I’m posting videos to go along with the Friday Mystery Resources. You can find my YouTube channel here. Feel free to subscribe if it’s a good match for you. I’ll be posting new videos every week.
The Friday Mystery Number Sense Resource Arrives Early
Fridays are the day when the Mystery Number Sense Resource comes out. Nobody knows what it will be each week, so it’s a surprise. I’m now posting the Friday mystery resource at the beginning of the week. So, it’s still a surprise, but you’ll receive it earlier. This will give you time to see it during the week which will help you decide if you want to use it on Friday. Of course, you can use any resource on any day of the week, but it seemed like a good idea to share this one sooner.
The Google Slides Question
If you are using Google Slides, everything I’m posting in this series will work in both PowerPoint and Google Slides. When you download a file by clicking on the blue link, you’ll see that it is a PowerPoint file. To use it in Google Slides, I recommend these steps:
- After you download the file, drag it into your google drive.
- In Google Drive, click on the file and open it with Google Slides. Sometimes to do this I right click it and choose Open With… and Google Slides. You also may be able to simply double-click on the file to open a Google Slides version.
- Click Present.
The Posting Schedule Remains the Same & Everything Is Brand New Each Day
- Mondays – Estimation Clipboard (All Grade Levels)
- Tuesdays – Esti-Mystery (Kindergarten) ; Esti-Mystery (Grades 1-2)
- Wednesdays – Esti-Mystery (Grades 1-3)
- Thursdays – Esti-Mystery (Grades 3-8)
- Fridays – New Mystery Number Sense Resource (All Grade Levels)
Did You Know?
Part 4 of this blog series is now available!
If you are looking for materials for April 19 or later, then click here to see Part 4.
April 19 – May 28 materials can be found here.
Monday, March 1
Estimation Clipboard 57 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, March 2
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 16 – “Are Those Miniature Tennis Balls?”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 131 – “Tiny Tennis”
Wednesday, March 3
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 229 – “That Clue Eliminated 72”
Thursday, March 4
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 332 – “Looks Like Tennis”
Friday, March 5
The brand new YouTube video for the Rare, Red Splat is here.
Monday, March 8
Estimation Clipboard 58 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, March 9
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 17 – “Bouncy Billiard Balls”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 132 – “Cue Up a Large Number”
Wednesday, March 10
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 230 – “Clues Above the Vase”
Thursday, March 11
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 333 – “Billiard Balls Bring Many Clues”
Friday, March 12
All Grade Levels: The Rare, Red Splat – Part 2
This resource has 5 levels so there is something for every grade level.
Monday, March 15
Estimation Clipboard 59 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, March 16
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 18 – “Bear Cubs”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 133 – “Bearly Enough Clues”
Wednesday, March 17
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 231 – “Bear Jar”
Thursday, March 18
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 334 – “More Than a Square Bear”
Friday, March 19
Cube Connectors – Part 1 (All Grade Levels)
Click here to watch the YouTube Video about how to use this resource.
Monday, March 22
Estimation Clipboard 60 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, March 23
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 19 – “Pinning Down the Number”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 134 – “Empty Clothesline”
Wednesday, March 24
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 232 – “The Large Pins Don’t Count But They Do Hold a Lot of Clues”
Thursday, March 25
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 335 – “Big Clues on Big Clothespins”
Friday, March 26
Cube Connectors – Part 2 (All Grade Levels)
Click here to watch the YouTube Video about how to use this resource.
Monday, March 29
Estimation Clipboard 61 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, March 30
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 20 – “Shiny”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 135 – “Planetary” (updated)
Wednesday, March 31
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 233 – “Glossy”
Thursday, April 1
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 336 – “It’s Flying!”
Friday, April 2
How Many Cubes are in Step 5 – Part 5 – updated (All Grade Levels)
Monday, April 5
Estimation Clipboard 62 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, April 6
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 21 – “Blast Off!”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 136 – “Rockets and Reflections”
Wednesday, April 7
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 234 – “Rocket Reflections”
Thursday, April 8
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 337 – “Bound for Orbit”
Friday, April 9
The Rare Red Splat – Part 3 (All Grade Levels)
Monday, April 12
Estimation Clipboard 63 (All Grade Levels)
Tuesday, April 13
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 22 – “Pencils or Erasers?”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 137 – “Erasing Numbers”
Wednesday, April 14
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 235 – “Flat Items Pack Tightly”
Thursday, April 15
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 338 – “Two Dice if You Look Twice?”
Friday, April 16
How Many Cubes are in Step 5 – Part 6 (All Grade Levels)
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My students love these even though I’m an English teacher.
I’m so glad to hear that your students love these, Ayanna.
Thank you so much for providing these lessons! My students get so excited whenever they see we’re doing one, they even starting calling out team names based on their guesses near the end (Team 35! Team 63!) I’ve got students who really struggle with math who light up when we work on these puzzles. Thank you for making this tough teaching year so much easier!
Hi, Jessica. I’m so happy to hear about your students lighting up. Thank you for providing this insight into your classroom!
My awesome fourth graders absolutely love your Esti-Mysteries!!! Whenever one trips up a bunch of us, they say they’ve been bamboozled by Steve Wyborney! It’s a high compliment. Thank you for all of your work putting these together and making math even more fun.
Ha! I love that. You are very welcome!
The other day, one of my at risk students came to school in a rough mood. When I opened the Power point, a huge smile came over her face and she shouted “math rocks”. What a break through for this student. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Hi, Denise! Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m glad to hear that this is providing some math joy!
Mr. Wyborney, My class would love to see a video showing you empty and count the items in the containers. Also, we are going to start creating our own estimation mysteries, so thank you for inspiring us!
Mrs. Duckworth’s Class
Hi, Mrs. Duckworth’s Class. I would love to provide this for you. I’m just a bit short on time to create an extra video right now. However, I love that you are creating your own Esti-Mysteries. Here’s a tip, which you have probably already discovered: Usually when someone is surprised by the number at the end, they are surprised by how high it is. It’s more than they expected. Sometimes people will say, “Can it really be that much?” However, I’ve rarely heard people be surprised by how low the number is. I’ve rarely had someone ask, “Can it really be that small?” It’s common for estimates to be about 1/3 lower than the actual total. So, when you create your Esti-Mysteries, and you are deciding which 2 numbers is should come down to at the end, keep in mind that many people have a tendency to estimate too low. Enjoy the process. I’m proud of you for reaching out with this question (I wish I had more time in the day) and I’m also proud of you for creating your own Esti-Mysteries!
Thank you so much! We have already experimented, and are learning a lot. We REALLY LOVE your website, and use it almost every day. Thank you for inspiring us to make our own Esti-Mysteries. Please continue to create these activities, because they are awesome! (Direct quotes from my students). Keep up the wonderful work!!!
Mrs. Duckworth’s 3rd Grade TAG students
I appreciate these quotes, Laura. I will keep posting them.
The kids absolutely love these! The ask for them everyday!
Thank you for sharing this, Annmarie!
Mr. Wyborney, Could you please show a video of you putting and counting the objects in the containers. My students would love to see that! They are always questioning your totals. Thank you so much!
Hi, Laura. I just caught up on comments and sent a note to your class. Thanks for reaching out.
Thank you so much! We have been doing these a few times a week for the past few weeks. When i opened the power point today, my students cheered!! They think this is best game ever!! So much thinking and math vocabulary – all planned for me! I don’t have to do anything but download the power point!! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this, Stephanie. I love hearing about cheering the math classroom!
Oh, wait – something was up with my powerpoint viewer. I think I got it covered now. So sorry – I love your work so much, I hated not being able to use it!! Happy Friday!
I’m glad it’s all taken care of, Angela.
These are great!! But where do I find the answers? By the way, I am a very grateful Canadian teacher! My kids love these!!
Hi, Ida. The answers are under the reveal boxes. On the PowerPoint slide – when it’s playing – they will automatically appear when you click.
Ha! As soon as I posted that comment it showed up! I think it’s because I am in China and the time difference. I’m in the future!
I love esti-mysteries so much for my intervention groups! I bought many of them in a bundle pre pandemic. Now you have new lovely ones that include a 100 chart. Is there a way for me to add that 100 chart into the slides from the 51 bundle?
Hi, Jeannie. If you purchased the course earlier, you’ll see that I’ve now added a LOT of new Esti-Mysteries. There are actually 189 now, instead of 77. I’ve also added a video that shows how to add charts to Esti-Mysteries. 🙂
Thank you for all your effort to have daily lessons on estimation. My first and second graders love your lessons. It can get quite loud when they’ve gotten the right number.
These are incredible! Can I just say THANK YOU x 1,000?!?! I am a reading and math interventionist and got put on remote teaching at the last minute because of a Covid exposure. I was frantically searching for an engaging and meaningful math task for my struggling mathematicians, and your resources came to the rescue! They loved these today and I am learning better ways to teach number sense as I watch them problem solve. Thank you so much for providing these resources! My students and I are so grateful!
Thank you so much for providing these awesome resources. You have made building number sense skills so much fun for the students (and teachers too). It is so nice to see the students actively engaged and waiting on the edge of their seats for each reveal. Thank you!