May. 27, 2008

Teaching with Nature ~ Basic Mathematics

Posted in Math

 

 

I would have never thought there would be so many opportunities to teach Math from Nature Study.  With just about every nature subject that we pursued, there was some opportunity to tie it into Math.  It hasn't always come naturally, sometimes it does though.  Math is one of the harder subjects for us in general, so it sometimes takes some planned out thought to see opportunities, but they are there.

 

The ideas on my list below are all geared toward basic Math skills.  I see them as being quite useful enough to teach the younger grades, or at least be a great supplement to a regular curriculum.  For higher up Math, of course it is necessary to use a curriculum.  For really young ages, for those just beginning to count through Kindergarten, I have found there is definitely plenty in nature to learn the basics from!  I also have to keep in mind that during the winter months, Nature Math will be much harder to do, but I'm sure some things can still be done.

 

So I'm still choosing to use a curriculum for this subject (for my 4th and 6th graders).  In the recent past we have used Saxon Math, but unfortunately I felt overwhelmed with teaching it. So this next year we are switching to Teaching Textbooks, which I am very excited about since it is more on the computer and less workbooks, and you have a computer instructor.

 

As I am preparing for the next school year, my plans are to have the kids do Teaching Textbooks for three days a week, and save the other two days for nature related math, logic puzzles, literature math, games,  etc.  My friend Cindy has some excellent ideas for logic puzzles and literature math at her blog under the Math category.

 

So, today I spent time looking over the things that we had done to tie Math into nature and then further brainstormed other ways that I'll try to incorporate more next schoolyear.  Please feel free to let me know of any ideas that you have and I'll be glad to keep adding to the list!  I'm sure there are many more ideas.

 

Measuring:

 

  • Planting Seeds (measuring distance between)
  • Monitoring Growth of Seeds
  • Keeping Track of Growth in other objects (tadpoles, etc.)
  • Measuring Objects in Nature (earthworms, leaves, rocks, caterpillars, insects of any kind)
  • Measuring Rainfall (not just in inches, also cups, pints, quarts, etc.)
  • Measure the circumference of a tree

 

Tally Marks:

 

  • Use to count anything in nature (tadpoles, trees, mushrooms, flowers, birds, etc.)

 

Venn Diagram:

 

  • Use for comparison of two objects in nature (toads/frogs; two different leaves, trees, flowers, birds, etc.)

 

Graphing:

 

  • Leaf Collection (by type - toothed lobed, etc.)
  • Trees in Yard (by type)
  • Flowers (by types)
  • Birds (by type) 
  • Rain or Snow (days over the last month)
  • Temperatures (over the last month)
  • Types of Clouds (over a week or more)

 

Probability:

 

  • After graphing how many days of rain in one particular month, figure out the probability for rain happening this time next year.  The same could be done for temperatures, sunny vs. cloudy days, and snowfall.

 

Counting and Addition/Subtraction:

 

  • Counting anything in nature works (I taught my toddler to count to ten using things like acorns, caterpillars, clouds, birds, and worms!)
  • Things like nuts, rocks, and small sticks work great for doing addition and subtraction.

 

Multiplication/Division:

 

  • Again using small objects to sort into groups.

 

Patterning:

 

  • Plant flowers or vegetables in patterns.
  • Observe certain things in nature such as box turtle shells, seashells, and insects and you will quickly find fantastic patterns.

 

Money:

 

  • Yes, you can even play store in nature!  Acorns, special pretty rocks, bugs, dandelions all come at a price (well, ok, the dandelions should be free!).
  • Give the kids a challenge:  give them a list of flowers and/or vegetables, each with a price, and give them a set amount of money they have to spend.  And have them design a garden on a piece of paper without going over budget, and without having too much money left over.

 

 

Well, that's the end of my brainstorming list!  I'm sure I'll be adding to it as the year goes on.  I'll keep this post linked on my side bar under the "How Else Are We Learning" header.

 

I'm adding this section for a place for your great ideas!

 

Laura from The World is Our Classroom reminded me of this:

The observation of a ladybettle is a great lesson in Symmetry!  Awesome Laura!  Thanks!

 

Julie from Forty Acres, A Husband, and Three Kids gave a great idea:  "When planting our vegetable garden, I had my oldest daughter graph the garden by size and amount of rows with graph paper."  Thanks Julie!

 

Kris from Musing Mom gave some awesome ideas and websites.  Thanks Kris!

 

Math and science are siblings, born from Nature as created by God, so I find this the easiest subject to tie into nature studies. Here are some more ideas:



Perimeter and area, which introduces multiplication.


Ratio, proportion, and algebra using Thales tree shadow:
http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/thales.htm



Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio are everywhere in nature (you could even calculate golden ratios with algebra): http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMAT6680/Parveen/Fib_nature.htm



Here's a lesson plan from Discovery.com on Numbers in Nature:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/numbersnature/

 

 

 

 

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

May. 27, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>

Posted by homeschoolingmy2
Wow! This is awesome, Melissa! I will definitely be referring back to this over time. I knew most subjects could be tied into Nature somehow, but this list is a great eye opener. Thanks so much!

Edited by homeschoolingmy2 on May. 27, 2008 at 5:17 PM
• Permanent Link

May. 27, 2008 - Great Ideas!

Posted by Anonymous
Melissa -

OK, now my creative juices are certainly flowing about math. It was funny, the very day that I commented on your earlier education in nature post, my daughter and I were out picking blackberries. As I spotted many ladybeetles, I remembered that she illustrates symmetry in a beautiful manner. I thought of you as it clicked for the first time!

Thanks again,
Laura
http://worldourclassroom.blogspot.com
• Permanent Link

May. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by westward
Awesome ideas!! :o) Really great!!

Yes, June is looking fine for a visit. And you are welcome to come camp anytime you like!
• Permanent Link

May. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by naturalpaths
I am glad I am not the only one that felt overwhelmed by Saxon Math. I heard so many wonderful things about it and we did well with it for a couple of years. The third year in ds1 and I both loathed it, however. We ditched it for Bob Jones Math, which he loves.

Thanks for mentioning venn diagrams. I need to use those more often!
• Permanent Link

May. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OldSchoolMarm
Fantastic! So many great ideas, I'll definitly be referring back. When planting our vegetable garden, I had my oldest daughter graph the garden by size and amount of rows with graph paper, she really enjoyed it. Thanks and blessings! Julie
• Permanent Link

May. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dawne
What a wonderful post with great math ideas! Thank you for sharing them. I would like encourage you to submit this for the RB blog carnival.

http://oneroomhomeschool.blogspot.com/2008/05/ruth-beechick-blog-carnivalcoming-up.html
• Permanent Link

May. 30, 2008 - The possibilities are endless!

Posted by MusingMom
Math and science are siblings, born from Nature as created by God, so a science geek like me finds this the easiest subject to tie into nature studies. Here are some more ideas.

Perimeter and area, which introduces multiplication.

Read Anno's Magic Seed for the mathematics of generations (1 seed makes 3 plants; each in turn makes 3 plants, etc.)

Read Socrates and the Three Pigs by Tuyosi Mori and make a permutation tree:
http://algo.inria.fr/seminars/sem99-00/banderier1001.gif (This is also at the beginning of MEP Year 4.)

Ratio, proportion, and algebra using Thales tree shadow:
http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/thales.htm

Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio are everywhere in nature (you could even calculate golden ratios with algebra):
http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMAT6680/Parveen/Fib_nature.htm

Here's a lesson plan from Discovery.com on Numbers in Nature:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/numbersnature/

I could go on...what inspiration you have given!

Edited by MusingMom on May. 30, 2008 at 7:43 AM
• Permanent Link

About Me

Welcome to our blog home! My name is Melissa and I am a homeschool mom of three beautiful blessings ages 11, 9, and 2; and blessed wife to my husband for 15 years. Our homeschooling style is eclectic, but we love Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies and learning the natural, everyday hands-on life way! We especially see daily opportunities to learn and grow closer to God through His amazing creation in nature!

Photobucket

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God." ~Psalm 84:3-4


Photobucket
Email Me

Photobucket

Subscribe to My Blog


Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Subscribe in a reader


Subscribe in Bloglines

Nature Notes

Photobucket

  • 8/15/08
    How do you do school at a table in a schoolroom on such a gorgeous day? High of 80 degrees, low humidity, puffy white clouds, gentle breeze...outside we go!

  • The rains have yet again brought on two more new wildflowers - Tall Ironweed and Lance-Leaved Goldenrod, both found down by the creek.

    Alex caught a Dog-Day Cicada thats wing had been damaged, we had lots of fun observing and learning about cicadas today.

    Our friend and new pet, the American Toad, is still doing quite well, he has a big appetite!



    Photobucket

    "The earth has music for those who will listen."
    ~ William Shakespeare


    "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."
    ~ George Washington Carver


    "Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God."
    ~ George Washington Carver


    "Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."
    ~John Ruskin


  • Scripture Notes


    For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

    But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? ~ Job 12:7-9

    Photobucket

    General Links

    • Home
    • View my profile
    • Archives
    • My Blog's RSS
    • Crosswalk Homeschool Site
    • My Daughter's Blog

    Downloadable Files to Share


    General Files

    • Weekly Chore Checklist-Updated 3/08 (Word)
    •
    Weekly Dinner Menu Planner-Updated 3/08 (Excel)
    •
    Daily Schedule-Updated 4/08 (Word)
    •
    Kid's Chore Cards-Updated 3/08 (Word)
    •
    Food Journal (Excel)
    •
    Education Journal - Blank (Excel)


    Nature Study Files

    •
    Taking Note of Birds List (Excel)
    •
    Birds Notebook Page - UPDATED(Word)
    •
    Northern Cardinal Study Guide (Word)
    •
    Plant Journal (Excel)
    •
    Science Journal (Excel)
    •
    Cloud Identification Sheet (Excel)
    •
    Fire! The Renewal of a Forest - Unit Study (Word)


    Bird Sounds from our Nature Walks (wav files)

    •
    Eastern Towhee - Nature Walk 3/23/08
    •
    Pileated Woodpecker - Sighting Back Yard 3/26/08


    Photobucket

    Nature Links

    • Cornell Lab of Ornithology ~ Bird Guide
    •
    What Bird? ~ Bird Guide
    •
    ENature
    •
    National Geographic - Creature Features
    •
    Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Migration Map
    •
    Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 2009
    •
    Great American Backyard Campout - June 28, 2008

    Nature Identification Posts

    •
    Nature Identification How-To's
    •
    Wildflower Walks, Identification, and Notebooking
    •
    Take a Wildflower Walk


    Kentucky Nature Identification Websites

    •
    Common Mammals of Kentucky
    •
    Wildflowers of Kentucky
    •
    Trees of Kentucky
    •
    Common Butterflies of Kentucky
    •
    Birds of Kentucky
    •
    Insects and Spiders of Kentucky-under KY Critter Files
    •
    Snakes of Kentucky
    •
    Reptiles of Kentucky
    •
    Frogs and Toads of Kentucky
    •
    Amphibians of Kentucky
    •
    Kentucky's Flora and Fauna

    Photobucket

    Nature Projects We've Done

    • Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
    •
    Homemade Suet
    •
    Bagel Bird Feeders
    •
    Nature Walk: 3-D Nature Scenes
    •
    Nature Prints in Clay
    •
    Nesting Materials Bag
    •
    Nature Walk: Poster Collage
    •
    Rock Painting
    •
    Our Nature Table
    •
    Mushroom Spore Prints
    •
    Woodland Fairy House
    •
    Nature Art ~ Blueberry Painting

    Photobucket

    Simple Backyard Nature Ideas

    • We Love Mud
    •
    Turn it Over
    •
    Animal Habitats
    •
    Let It Grow
    •
    Can You Hear It?

    Photobucket

    Art and Music

    • Picture Study - Creative Writing Activity
    •
    Nature Walk, 5 Elements of Shape, Vivaldi
    •
    Nature's Paintbox: Summer Watercolors
    ~ O'Keeffe and Vivaldi

    •
    Nature's Painbox: Spring Pastels ~ Stravinsky
    •
    Monet Impressionism ~ Vivaldi
    •
    Watercolor Project ~ Vivaldi
    •
    Mary Cassatt ~ Tempera Monoprint

    Photobucket

    Current Chapter Read-Aloud


    Photobucket
    The Secret Garden
    by Frances Hodgson Burnett


    Our Educational Philosophy

    "Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life."
    ~ Charlotte Mason


    •
    Who Was Charlotte Mason?
    •
    Summaries of "The Original Homeschooling Series"
    •
    Why Homeschoolers are Turning to a Charlotte Mason Education
    •
    Simply Charlotte Mason

    Why We Love Nature Study

    •
    Precious Moments in God's Creation
    •
    Can Nature Teach?

    Quotable
    "Years hence, when the children are old enough to understand that science itself is in a sense sacred and demands some sacrifices, all the 'common information' they have been gathering until then, and the habits of observation they have acquired, will form a capital groundwork for a scientific education. In the mean- time, let them consider the lilies of the field and the fowls of the air." --Charlotte Mason, Vol.1, p. 63


    Photobucket

    Textbook Curriculum We Currently Use

    • Teaching Textbooks Math
    •
    Primary Language Lessons"
    •
    Intermediate Language Lessons
    •
    The Write Stuff Adventure
    •
    Mystery of History

    How Else Are We Loving Learning?

    •
    Arts and Music
    •
    Outdoor Hour Challenges
    •
    Hands On Learning
    •
    Natural Learning
    •
    Nature Study
    •
    Science Experiments
    •
    Dictation
    •
    Clouds Unit Study
    •
    Dandy Dandelions Study
    •
    Gardening
    •
    Mushroom Study
    •
    Teaching with Nature ~ Math
    •
    From Eggs, to Tadpoles, to Toads
    •
    Forest Fires Unit Study

    Photobucket

    Categories

    • Amphibian Study
    •
    Art and Music
    •
    Awards
    •
    Bible
    •
    Birding
    •
    Butterflies and Moths
    •
    Charlotte Mason
    •
    Cloud Study
    •
    Dictation
    •
    Family
    •
    Field Trips
    •
    Gardening
    •
    Hands On Learning
    •
    Healthy Living
    •
    History
    •
    Holidays
    •
    Home
    •
    Household and School Planning
    •
    Just For Fun
    •
    Language Arts
    •
    Math
    •
    My Blog
    •
    Natural Learning
    •
    Nature in Autumn
    •
    Nature in Spring
    •
    Nature in Summer
    •
    Nature in Winter
    •
    Nature Crafts
    •
    Nature Journaling
    •
    Nature Study
    •
    Organization
    •
    Our Homeschool
    •
    Outdoor Hour Challenges
    •
    Poetry
    •
    Recipes
    •
    School Group
    •
    Science
    •
    Seasons
    •
    Simple Backyard Nature
    •
    Unit Studies
    •
    Wildflowers

    Nature Books We Enjoy


    Photobucket
    Handbook of Nature Study
    by Anna Botsford Comstock

    *free download

    Photobucket
    Pocketful of Pinecones
    by Karen Andreola


    Photobucket
    The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
    by Edith Holden


    Photobucket
    Nature in a Nutshell for Kids
    by Jean Potter


    Photobucket
    Girls Who Looked Under Rocks
    by Jeannine Atkins


    Photobucket
    i love dirt!
    by Jennifer Ward


    Photobucket
    Nature's Playground
    by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield


    Photobucket
    The Burgess Bird Book for Children
    by Thorton W. Burgess


    Friends

    •
    Christin
    • ClagettsFLStyle
    • blessed2bamommy
    • FaithfulGrace
    • Pattycake
    • msack
    • momanna98
    • seekingHim
    • MusingMom
    • OhioSarah
    • mamasmurf
    • kaysmarmey
    • ApplesofGold
    • ctnjm324
    • Keri
    • Sandpiper
    • stillearning
    • westward
    • jenn4him
    • jiffy11
    • ReviewsbyHeidi
    • nikkisimcox
    • Ksudoc93
    • nancysnook
    • 2peter318
    • pottershand
    • CherylinMA
    • joyfulmomy
    • mamaof3
    • rreitsma
    • happycamper
    • MamaM
    • naturalpaths
    • blessedwith2angels
    • peaksandvalleys1991
    • tulipmama
    • mountainsong
    • Bigsis10
    • Dot
    • SchoolinRhome
    • boysrus
    • blessinghill
    • psalms16vs2
    • lilywhite
    • kimalita
    • kkzemadamson
    • Jilann
    • flysister
    • Patiecake
    • OldSchoolMarm
    • homeschoolingmy2
    • theresa4
    •
    • TreasureHeart
    • buzymommy
    • abbycamlars
    • homeschoolnomad

    Photobucket


    hslaunch.com's list of top education blogs



    Photobucket



    Photobucket



    Photobucket



    Green Hour - Discover the Wonder of Nature



    CURRENT MOON

    Graphic Credits


    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
    Photobucket
    Photobucket
    Photobucket
    Photobucket
    Photobucket
    Photobucket





    Entry 51 of 219
    Last Page | Next Page