This past school year Westlawn students have had opportunities to hone their estimation skills with monthly estimation contests. Contests featured containers of various sizes and shapes filled with myriad treats, which were often connected to the season. For example, the October estimation contest featured candy corn, and the February estimation contest featured conversation hearts. In many months, there were three different-sized containers available with varying levels of hints designed to support students' mathematical thinking at specific grade levels. However, for May, all staff and students had a single, giant container of cheeseballs to estimate, and zero hints were provided. When staff borrowed the container to share with their classes, here is the slide they projected onto the board:

Despite this very open-ended problem, students were able to use the estimation skills they have honed throughout the year to make astoundingly accurate guesses as to the amount of cheeseballs inside the container. Math coach and resource teacher Ms. Call created a slide deck to celebrate the winners and thank Mrs. Thomas' students who were instrumental in counting all of the cheeseballs. Enjoy this slide deck, graphic novel-style!