170 New Esti-Mysteries
This school year, I’ll be creating and posting 170 brand new Esti-Mysteries. I’ll be posting a new one nearly every day for the rest of the school year – just like last year. The purpose is the same as last year: Sharing math joy with you all year long!
Prepare for math joy and rich math talk in your classroom as your students work with many concepts, estimation, and a sense of mystery!
May your classroom be filled with math joy and rich math talk all year long. As always, I’ll let everyone who is subscribed to my email list know when new resources are posted.
New Estimation Clipboards can be found here. (All Grade Levels)
NEW THIS WEEK!
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 89 – “Noodles”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.G – “Oodles of Noodles”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.F – “Neon Noodles”
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 299.A – “Stretching”
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 469 – “Finale”
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Download the Esti-Mysteries
Q: How do I get the Esti-Mysteries?
A: Simply click on the BLUE download link that is the name of the Esti-Mystery.
The Google Slides Question
Q: These are PowerPoint files, but I use Google Slides. Can I use them?
A: Yes! I use them in both PowerPoint and Google Slides. After you download the PowerPoint file, make a new folder in google drive and save it into that folder. Then click on the file (I usually right-click it) and the choose “open with” and then Google Slides. Then just click Present.
To Receive Notifications
Q: How can I find out when new Esti-Mysteries are posted?
A: Simply sign-up for the mailing list on the blog, and I’ll let you know when new ones are posted.
The Clues / The Reveal
Q: How to I get the clues to appear one by one?
Q: How do I get the reveal to appear?
A: Make sure the slide show is playing. In PowerPoint, click on View Show. In Google Slides, click on Present. When it’s playing the clues will appear one at a time, and when you reach the reveal it will appear when you click.
The Embedded Charts
Q: I see that some of these have charts. Which one do I use?
A: Each Esti-Mystery comes with 3 versions (3 options) so you can choose the one you want to use. The first one has no chart. The second one has a chart that is show so that you can write on it. The third one has an animated chart that will shade in numbers that have been eliminated by the clues. Use the one that works best for you.
More Esti-Mysteries…
Tuesday, October 4
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 58 – “The Top of the Order”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 175 – “The Top on the Top”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 374 – “Spinning Tops”
Wednesday, October 5
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 269 – “A Tip Top Esti-Mystery”
Thursday, October 6
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 438 – “The Number on the Top”
Tuesday, October 11
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 59 – “Dinosaur Eggs”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 176 – “Look Closely to Spot 5 Yellow Eggs”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 375 – “Triple Time”
Wednesday, October 12
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 270 – “The Clues Can Crack the Case”
Thursday, October 13
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 439 – “The Difference Between the Eggs”
Tuesday, October 18
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 60 – “Stamping Out Numbers”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 177 – “The Paper Clue”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 376 – “If You Spell Out the Number”
Wednesday, October 19
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 271 – “The Inky Clue”
Thursday, October 20
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 440 – “Stamping Out the Clues”
Tuesday, October 25
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 61 – “Pencil Sharpeners”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 178 – “Sharpening Our Ideas”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 377 – “Sharpening the Clues”
Wednesday, October 26
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 272 – “Sharpening Our Estimation Skills”
Thursday, October 27
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 441 – “Pencil Patterns”
Tuesday, November 1
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 62 – “Kind of Like a Cactus”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 179 – “How Many Clues Can Fit on a Die?”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 378 – “A 2-Digit Number”
Wednesday, November 2
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 273 – “Colorful Cacti”
Thursday, November 3
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 442 – “What Happened to the Die?”
Tuesday, November 8
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 63 – “Dice Inside Dice”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 180 – “How Did the Dice Get Inside the Dice?”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 379 – “Double Dice Triple Time”
Wednesday, November 9
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 274 – “I Can See Through the Large Dice”
Thursday, November 10
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 443 – “Factoring in the Dice”
Tuesday, November 15
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 64 – “Cupcake Erasers”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 181 – “Cupcake Vase”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 380 – “So Many Cupcakes”
Wednesday, November 16
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 275 – “Five Cupcakes at a Time”
Thursday, November 17
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 444 – “Glass of Cupcakes”
Tuesday, November 22
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 65 – “Mirror Balls”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 182 – “Reflection and Refraction”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 381 – “One-Fourth of a Clue”
Wednesday, November 23
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 276 – “It’s Behind the Vase”
Thursday, November 24
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 445 – “Upon Reflection”
Tuesday, November 29
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 66 – “Wristband Coils”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 183 – “Curly Coils”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 382 – “How the Tag is Connected to 61”
Wednesday, November 30
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 277 – “The Narrow Vase of Coiled Wristbands”
Thursday, December 1
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 446 – “The Tag Makes All the Difference”
Tuesday, December 6
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 67 – “The Pencils are Bent”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 184 – “Pretzeled Pencils”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 383 – “Pencil Knots”
Wednesday, December 7
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 278 – “The Pencils are Tied in Knots”
Thursday, December 8
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 447 – “Pencil Prime Time”
Tuesday, December 13
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 68 – “Red Rocks”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 185 – “What Kind of Rocks are in the Bowl?”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 384 – “Shiny Rocks”
Wednesday, December 14
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 279 – “Red Rock Vase”
Thursday, December 15
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 448 – “When one-sixth is a Multiple of Three”
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 69 – “Colorful Dice”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 186 – “The Double Pattern Challenge”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 385 – “The Clues on the Top”
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 280 – “Marbled Dice”
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 449 – “Dice and Halves”
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 70 – “Sea Creatures”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 187 – “Swimmers”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 386 – “Sea Creatures Rounding Down”
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 281 – “Visiting Land”
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 450 – “How Many Tentacles?”
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 71 – “All Eyes are on the Clues”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 188 – “Looking for Clues”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 387 – “The Orange Creature is Looking Right at a Clue”
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 282 – “I See a Clue”
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 451 – “The First Appearance of the Floating Die”
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 72 – “Animal Erasers”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 189 – “The Dice is in the Air”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 388 – “Erase-Stemystery”
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 283 – “Can Dice Fly?”
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 452 – “One out of Three Digits is in the Answer”
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 73 – “Dinosaur Counters”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 190 – “Smiling Dinosaurs”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 389 – “The Dinos Stole the Die”
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 284 – “You Can’t See All the Dinosaurs”
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 453 – “Dice-No-Saurs”
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 74 – “Warm, Fuzzy Hats”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 191 – “You’re Getting Warmer”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 390 – “Vase of Hats”
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 285 – “A Heap of Hats”
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 454 – “Hats and Hat and Hats”
AN ENTIRE WEEK OF HEART-SHAPED MATH ACTIVITIES!
Estimation Clipboard for February 14, 2023
Estimation Clipboard 54 UPDATED for 2023
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Kindergarten: Kindergarten Esti-Mystery 13 – “A Scoop of Beads” UPDATED for 2023
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 128 – A Double Scoop of Beads” UPDATED for 2023
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 329 – “The Transparent Bead Scoop” UPDATED for 2023
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 226 – “A Triple Scoop of Beads” UPDATED for 2023
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Congratulations! You have found a Rare, Red Splat! Enjoy!
If the Rare, Red Splat is new to you, there is a link to a video in the PPT file that explains how to use it.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 75 – “Hatching an Esti-Mystery”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 192 – “Cracking an Esti-Mystery”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 391 – “Triple Eggs”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 286 – “Sum Eggs”
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 455 – “If You See Nine on the Die”
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 76 – “Flexible Thinking”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 193 – “The Difference of 20 Challenge”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 392 – “The Hidden Clue”
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 287 – “Where is the Hidden Die?”
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 456 – “The Hidden Clue Reminds Me of a Square”
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 77 – “Pieces of Cheese”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 194 – “A Cheesy Esti-Mystery”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 393 – “Cheese Patterns”
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 288 – “Cheese-Sti-Mystery”
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 457 – “Twice as Many as a Square Number”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 78 – “I Can See Into the Rocks”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 195 – “Fives and Rocks”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 394 – “This is an If-Sti-Mystery”
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 289 – “The Hidden Die”
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 458 – “This is an Advanced If-Sti-Mystery”
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 79 – “Consecutive Clothespins”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 196 – “Clothespins and Clues”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 395 – “Pinning Down a Clue”
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 290 – “The Clue in the Clothespin”
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 459 – “Half of Half of the Answer is an Odd Number”
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 80 – “Balloon Holders”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 197 – “How Does the Balloon Faster to the Holder?”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 396 – “How to Connect the Balloon”
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 291 – “To Hold a Balloon”
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 460 – “Less Than One Whole Balloon”
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 81 – “Cacti or Cactuses?”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 198 – “Cactus Counters”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 397 – “Prickly Counters”
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 292 – “The Clue in the Shadow of the Cactus”
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 461 – “Vase of Cactus”
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 82 – “Connecting Cubes”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199 – “Clicking Cubes”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 398 – “Connecting The Clues”
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 293 – “Cubes That Connect”
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 462 – “Three Yellow Cubes”
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 83 – “Eye See the Clues”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.A – “The Orange Eyes are Studying the Clues”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399 – “Staring at the Clues”
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 294 – “Digit-Eyes”
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 463 – “The Three Most Visible Choices”
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 84 – ‘The Dinos are Back”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.B – “The Dinos and the Die”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.A – “The Pairs are Fading Out”
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 295 – “Four Colors of Dinosaurs”
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 464 – “The Seconds are Ticking”
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 85 – “Bicycles”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.C – “Ways to Move”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.B – “Zoom”
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 296 – “Speedy Things”
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 465 – “Transportation”
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 86 – “Magnets”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.D – “Magnetic Patterns”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.C – “The Highest Digit”
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 297 – “Sticky Digits”
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 466 – “Letters and Digits”
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 87 – “Tiny Books”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.E – “The Digit in the Book”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.D – “Books and Sequels”
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 298 – “The Same Digit”
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 467 – “How Many Chapters Fit in Those Books?”
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Kindergarten: Esti-Mystery 88 – “Number Tiles”
Grades 1-2: Esti-Mystery 199.F – “Digits and Tiles”
Grades 3-8: Esti-Mystery 399.E – “Tile Pile”
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Grades 1-3: Esti-Mystery 299 – “Tile Tower”
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Grades 4-12: Esti-Mystery 468 – “Are Those Square Tiles?”
Share this:
My first graders LOVE the Esti-Mysteries! Thank you for sending them each week. Can you remind me why some Esti-Mysteries show a die and what does it represent? I think you posted about this before, but I can’t seem to find the answer. Thank you!
Hi, Megan. That’s a great question! Sometimes the die has a clue, and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s always a bit of a surprise whether it holds a clue or not, and if the clue will point out or eliminate numbers. Another important way I use the die is as a size reference because sometimes it helps students to better picture the size of the objects or the container.
I have to say I have done one of these every day with my class and they love it! I even started having a student a day be the teacher and walk the rest of the class through it as they are really starting to understand it. It is such a good warm up to get their minds ready for math.
What a great idea!
Hi Steve!
I have been following you for years now. My students and I just love everything you create especially the esti-mysteries. Thank you so much for sharing your great work!
I really appreciate this note, Isabelle!
Have already incorporated this into my class this year. Used the 3 Container one today and they love it as much as EstiMystery and Estimation Clipboard. It really makes them think mathematically!
I’m so happy to hear this, Lisa! Thank you for sharing – and I’ll keep the materials coming!
Wishing you a great day,
Steve
Hi Steve, these look fantastic. where are the powerpoint files to download? please respond to:
Thank you
Janine
Hi, Janine. To access the files scroll down until you see the dates. The download link is the blue link below each date.
Thank you for your wonderful work and for sharing.
It’s my pleasure!
Steve,
When I click on the link for the 3-container estimation routines click in the email above, it takes me to the website link with estimation clipboards. Am I doing something wrong?
Karen Gartland
Hi, Karen. I may have sent the wrong link. Here is the link to the 3-container Estimation Routine. I hope you like it! https://stevewyborney.com/2022/10/the-3-container-estimation-routine/
Thank you so much Steve!!! We love everything you create and are so appreciative of your generosity. Although I have purchased your “class” to make my own esti–mysteries I still like using yours as well. I am looking forward to doing the three-container estimation routines with the kiddos.
Thank you so much for all of this, Karen. I’ll keep the resources coming!
Hi Steve! I love your stuff! My class loves it too. Here’s my problem….only one has worked for me. I can’t to get past all the ads and I want to show it without all the extras. Any suggestions?
Hi, Jennifer. I posted some new ones yesterday. If you scroll down to the “New This Week” section, you’ll find the dates and see the new one I posted today. The download links are blue.
I hope that helps. 🙂
Thanks so much for these. The class of 7-8 year olds I was looking after last week loved them and asked to make their own. They had heaps of fun although we have a little work to do on clues, although cute, I’m not sure Clue #2: ‘It is a lot’ would help the estimator!
That’s really fun! I’m also learning to improve my clues as I go and I love to hear how they are creating their own!