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Description
Math comes alive in this outdoor activity that takes key concepts like patterns and measurement from the classroom to the forest. An adventure in discovery awaits as students interact with nature and apply new mathematics learning in an authentic and meaningful context. Essential skills are reinforced as students participate in a series of short activities where they will:
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Estimate heights of trees.
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Identify shapes and patterns in nature.
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Practice counting and recording data by conducting surveys of flowers.
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Measure and calculate the age of a tree.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This unique outdoor lesson supports mathematics outcomes related to estimation, number recognition, counting, patterns, symmetry and measurement while providing a meaningful nature experience that reinforces science skills like observation. As they explore, students will also be able to examine plants and animals they find and develop an increased awareness of the habitat values of forests.
The activities in this resource could be the precursor to an integrated teaching unit where a class uses Math, Science, English Language Arts and Visual Art skills to prepare a forest survey of their study site which highlights all of the interesting features of the area. This survey could be used to educate peers about the benefits of trees while promoting forest conservation in the local community.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Geometry: Shapes are defined and related by geometric attributes
- Number: Quantity is measured with numbers that enable counting, labelling, comparing, and operating
- Patterns: Awareness of patterns supports problem solving in various situations.
- Grade 1
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Geometry: Shapes are defined and related by geometric attributes.
- Measurement: Attributes such as length, area, volume, and angle are quantified by measurement.
- Number: Quantity is measured with numbers that enable counting, labelling, comparing, and operatin
- Patterns: Awareness of patterns supports problem solving in various situations
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Geometry: Shapes are defined and related by geometric attributes
- Measurement: Attributes such as length, area, volume, and angle are quantified by measurement
- Patterns: Awareness of patterns supports problem solving in various situation
- Statistics: The science of collecting, analyzing, visualizing, and interpreting data can inform understanding and decision making
- British Columbia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Numbers represent quantities that can be decomposed into smaller parts.
- Objects have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
- One-to-one correspondence and a sense of 5 and 10 are essential for fluency with numbers
- Repeating elements in patterns can be identified
- Grade 1
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Concrete graphs help us to compare and interpret data and show one-to-one correspondence.
- Numbers to 20 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s.
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
- Repeating elements in patterns can be identified
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 1:Observable patterns and cycles occur in the local sky and landscape
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Concrete items can be represented, compared, and interpreted pictorially in graphs.
- Numbers to 100 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compare
- The regular change in increasing patterns can be identified and used to make generalizations
- Manitoba
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns & Relations
- Shape & Space
- Statistics & Probability
- New Brunswick
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns and Relations
- Shape and Space
- Statistics and Probability
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns & Relations
- Shape & Space
- Statistics & Probability
- Northwest Territories
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns & Relations
- Shape & Space
- Statistics & Probability
- Nova Scotia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Mathematics 2: Geometry
- Mathematics 2: Measurement
- Mathematics 2: Number
- Mathematics 2: Patterns & Relations
- Mathematics 2: Statistics and Probability
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns & Relations
- Shape & Space
- Statistics & Probability
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Mathematic Behaviours: Overall Expectations
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Problem Solving and Innovating: Overall Expectations
- Grade 1
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Algebra
- Number
- Spatial Sense
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Algebra
- Data
- Number
- Spatial Sense
- Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns and Relations
- Shape and Space
- Statistics and Probability
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 1
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Arithmetic
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Statistics & Probability
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living things
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Arithmetic
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Statistics & Probability
- Saskatchewan
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Number
- Patterns and Relations
- Shape and Space
- Statistics and Probability
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Kindergarten
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Numbers represent quantities that can be decomposed into smaller parts.
- Objects have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
- One-to-one correspondence and a sense of 5 and 10 are essential for fluency with numbers
- Repeating elements in patterns can be identified
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science: Plants and animals have observable features
- Grade 1
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Concrete graphs help us to compare and interpret data and show one-to-one correspondence.
- Numbers to 20 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s.
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
- Repeating elements in patterns can be identified
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
- Science 1:Observable patterns and cycles occur in the local sky and landscape
- Grade 2
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Numbers to 100 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compare
- The regular change in increasing patterns can be identified and used to make generalizations
Themes Addressed
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Ecosystems (1)
- Appreciating the Natural World
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Land Use & Natural Resources (1)
- Forests
