Educational Insights - Estimation Station Review and #Giveaway

Educational Insights, a manufacturer of educational toys and games, has provided many hours of play to my children. Educational Insights products include subject-specific classroom products, teacher resources, educational toys, and games. Their products are designed by seasoned educators and parents who know that, first and foremost, learning must be fun.  Right now they are sponsoring a California Dreamin' Sweepstakes on their Facebook page for the chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to view a live taping of Jeopardy.  The lastest review and giveaway I'm doing for this upstanding company is for the Estimation Station.

The Estimation Station is a great way to teach children to make logical, mathematical estimates.  By filling the jar up with desired items and using the included proportional scoop, students can formulate educated estimations about the number of pieces in the jar.  Included with the Estimation Station is a 4" plastic cube jar with locking lid and a 2" plastic cube scoop.  An included activity guide has a week's worth of activities including estimation, counting, place value, comparing and ordering numbers, making predictions, graphing, statistics, and mathematical reasoning.

I've used the Estimation Station to teach my younger children estimation by filling it up different times with pieces of candy, pennies, and beads.  I've used the activity guide and worked with my kids day by day with different areas of math.  Markings on the side of the jar show the fractional amounts as you fill it.  By knowing that the scoop is half the length of the jar and the jar can hold eight times as much as the scoop, the kids have been able to get a fairly precise count of how many of each item is in the jar.

The scoop and the jar are easy to wipe down when it's empty and it's been a nice teaching tool to have.  I think the activity guide is geared more towards teachers and students, but it's also helpful to have at home to teach kids.  To make it more of a challenge, I recommend placing smaller items in the jar such as pennies, beads, or candy rather than larger things like marshmallows.  Another way the Estimation Station can be used is by filling it up during children's events and parties and having each guest take turns with their guesses.  The winner with the closest answer could receive a prize.

Win It!

One person will win an Estimation Station.

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment with a product you'd like to have from Educational Insights.

Extra Entries:

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One extra entry per relevant comment for commenting on any NON-GIVEAWAY post. Comments must be made during the duration of this giveaway. Come back here and tell me where you commented.

Leave a separate comment for each entry and include your email address in the comments.  Giveaway is open to residents of the USA.  Giveaway ends 6/7/11 at 8 pm CST.  Winner will be randomly drawn and will have 48 hrs. to respond to email notification or a new winner will be drawn.

I received product for review from Educational Insights.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products.  Your opinions and results may differ.