Fall Fun: Math with Nature

This is our son’s idea.  We enjoy going for walks and collecting items.  Here are a few things you can do with some of your autumn finds.

Materials

• Found nature objects (leaves, pinecones, acorns etc.)

• Sorting Mat sorting_mat_template   sorting_mat_blank

• Adding Mat adding_mat_template

• Sizing Mat sizing_mat_template
  

• Graphing Worksheet graph

• Basket
• Page protectors or laminating supplies
• Cardstock
• Pencil/ eraser
• Pencil crayons

Directions

• Print the provided templates onto cardstock.  Slip them into page protectors for longevity or laminate them if they are for classroom use.

• Go on a nature walk, collecting various items such as fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones etc. in a basket or bag.

• Take your treasures home and on a large area such a table, using the templates provided, organize your objects.  For example you might sort out the different colours of leaves, order your pinecones according to size etc.  You might use the adding mat to add all the acorns that still have their “hats” to those that don’t to see how many you have all together.  We provided a blank sorting mat for your own ideas.

• Print out the graphing worksheet and graph items of your choice.  Select a title and sub-titles for the x and y axis.  Colour in your bar graph.

• When you are done, return your treasures to nature or play with them outside.

• Pop your templates into a binder or folder and tuck them away for next year.  If you did this at home it would be interesting to note how your child’s understanding might change from year to year:  Can they sort things into their own created groups? Are they more independent?  Can they predict the answer with mental addition before tabulating it with the objects?  Could they make their own mat for a different concept (to share with a sibling for example)?

Purpose

• Using a variety of objects to explore mathematical concepts (sorting, addition, size, counting, graphing etc.)

Safety Notes

• Objects such as acorns can be a choking hazard so this activity is not recommended for children 0-3 or those that tend to put things in their mouths.
• Laminators should be used by an adults.