Bean Counters

We have started our next math unit on place value and measurement using the theme of Jack and the Beanstalk. Our first challenge was to estimate how many magic beans there were in a large ziploc bag that was halfway full.  Our next challenge was to figure out an efficient way to count all of these beans.  After a discussion, our decision was to put the beans into groups of ten.  As you will see, we found out that we had many groups of ten.  We revised our estimates and then decided to group ten  small cups of 10 beans into a bigger cup of 100.  Then we had so many 100 cups that we grouped ten 100 cups into a large 1000 container.  Finally, we found out how many beans we had.