Properties

     Learning about number properties can be confusing, especially when there are a lot of them.  For me I try to have a mental picture. In class the teacher talked about the Commutative Property of  Addition. The first part of the word commutative is commute, like how people "commute" every day to get from one place to the next, work or school. Starting at your house, Part A, and driving to work, part B, would look like this: A+B.  Going from work, Part B, back home, part A, would look like this: B+A. When they are put together it looks like: A+B=B+A.
     The picture of commuting is represented well in the video below. I think it is very relate-able because it is common for everyday. Kids can think about it when going to and from school and parents can teach their kids this property too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APOOI5TrR9E&feature=related

Estimations

     Estimation is a good tool to know how to use everyday.  It is used in temperature. For example: the temperature is 61 degrees I would round down to 60.  The rule is if the number is smaller than 5 you round down, but if the number is 5 or greater than the number is rounded up.  According to the rules for estimation if the number, 61, is to be rounded then you look at, in this case, the ones place, which is a 1. Since the one is smaller than 5 you round down to 60.
    Another area where rounding occurs is when using rulers. When measuring a book shelf one must measure how tall the tallest book is for that shelf space.  If the book measures 9 1/2 inches, the shelf will need to be a little taller to have the book fit, 10 inches.
     This link is a fun way  to remember the estimation and another way people use estimation everyday. Theses kids were so cute and creative in how they decided to teach estimation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntUGrqa1mo

Here is a blog to check out too.
http://homeschoolmath.blogspot.com/2010/09/estimation-methods.html