When children get old enough to go into a store and buy several items, rounding will help them calculate how much money they are spending so they don't go over their budget. Hula Hoop Rounding helps kids round to the nearest ten while getting some exercise. Pre-cut the numbers between 1 and 100 and write the numbers between 10 and by 10s on 11 hula hoops. Place the hula hoops and the pre-cut numbers on the floor across from one another. When the whistle blows students will run, skip or jump to collect a pre-cut number and place it inside the correct hoop.
Third through fifth grade students will learn how to round with the balloon rounding game. Provide students with an inflated balloon. Look at the number to be rounded and underline it, circle the digit next to it. Grasp the balloon with all five fingers. Slowly release the number of fingers of the circled digit one finger at a time, the teacher asks if the balloon goes up with one finger, two, and so forth. The reply is always no until the number is five and then all five fingers are released sending the balloon up in the air.
Kids love engaging in movement while learning. Make rounding fun for your classroom by playing the rounding jump game. Take masking tape and place it on the floor. Write by 10s the numbers between 1 and 150 on the tape. The children will line up one at a time. The teacher will say a number, 44 for example. The student will put one foot on whichever two numbers the number falls between. In this case the child would place one foot on 40 and a foot on 50. The child must decide which one the number 44 is closest to and jump over to the number she chooses. Repeat using a variety of numbers.
Now students can pretend to be jury members while reinforcing rounding skills while playing the classroom jury game. The judge and jury will find the defendant guilty or not guilty and sentence him to one day in jail or dismiss the case. If the digit being rounded is five through nine, the defendant is guilty of a crime and the judge sentences him to one day in jail. If the number is less than five he is innocent and he stays out of jail. The teacher writes a number on the board and asks the class, "Is the defendant guilty or innocent?" The students will answer guilty or innocent, the teacher will record answers and discuss the verdict.