Math Beyond Workbooks

Angle Estimation Game

• skills involved: estimating angle sizes, using a protractor


• materials needed:a prepared set of 10 "cards" as described below, straight edges for drawing angles, protractors

This activity is designed to help students gain an intuitive sense about angle measurements. Being able to estimate angle measurements will help students avoid the common error of reading the incorrect number on their protractor, and it will help with any word problems and exercises involving angle measurements.

1. First, prepare ten "cards". Each card is a sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. On five of these papers, draw angles ranging from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. On the other five, write angle measurements ranging from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. Number the cards 1 ‚ 10. Here are ten sample cards.

78 degrees	111 degrees	12 degrees	170 degrees	32 degrees





2. Have students number their papers 1 ‚ 10, and provide each student with a ruler or other straight edge. Show each card in order. For the first five cards, ask students to estimate how many degrees are in the angle shown. For the second five cards, have students draw an angle (using the straight edge) that they think measures the measurement given.

3. When all guesses are made, students can swap papers (or check their own). The instructor tells the correct measurements for the five angles for numbers 1 ‚ 5. Students use protractors to measure the guesses for 6 ‚ 10.
   
   Scoring is as follows:
   • score 5 points for each guess that was exactly correct
   • score 3 points for each guess that was within 5 degrees of the correct answer
   • score 1 point for each guess that was within 10 degrees of the correct answer

The player with the high score wins!