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If you are a teacher, you know that combining math activities with real-world applications can make things a bit more interesting. Now taking applied math OUTSIDE?! Your students might just find that math is more fun than they ever thought it could be!
These math activity ideas are inspired by my work in the field of environmental science and can help bring the real experience of being a scientist to your (outdoor) classroom! I hope you enjoy them.
1. Use trigonometry to estimate tree height
Did you know that you can estimate the height of trees using an inclinometer, a measuring tape, and math?! Trigonometry is the study of angles, and this is just one of its many real-world applications!
To learn more, read my blog post about how to calculate tree height, which also includes steps to build a simple inclinometer from household items. Or, check out my Math in the Forest unit for this activity and more.
2. Calculate the velocity and discharge of a stream
Watershed scientists need to know how much water is flowing in streams and rivers. There are lots of methods for measuring streams, but the most simple method for finding velocity and discharge is easy to do with students. Students will take simple measurements like stream width, depth, and the time it takes for a small object to float down a measured length of the stream.
I wrote a whole blog post on how to calculate the velocity and discharge of streams with your student. Get velocity and discharge equations, steps, and more in the post. You can also get worksheets, diagrams, and more for this lab activity in my Science on the River unit.
3. Snow water equivalent math activities
Anyone can set a container outside to measure precipitation. However, you can turn this simple meteorology exercise into an awesome applied math activity with some snowfall-related calculations!
Snow scientists, called “snow hydrologists”, study the snow-to-liquid ratio. The snow-to-liquid ratio is a similar concept to density. To calculate a snow-to-liquid ratio, first collect some snow by setting a container outside during a snowstorm. Record the height of the snow in the container. Then, bring the container inside so the snow can melt. Once it melts, record the height of the liquid water – this is called the snow-water equivalent. Finally, divide the depth of snow by the snow water equivalent to find the snow-to-liquid ratio:
snow-to-liquid ratio = snow depth/snow water equivalent
To take this activity a step further, calculate the total volume of water that falls on your roof during a snowstorm. All you need is the area of the roof and the snow water equivalent!
Live somewhere with a lot of snow? Consider setting up a snow gauge in your yard as a more permanent meteorology installation! You will find equations, diagrams, and worksheets for these activities and more in my Science in the Snow unit!
4. Tree trunk diameter and finding pi activity
This is one of my favorite applied math activities and it is so simple. Use a measuring tape to find the circumference of a tree. Then, use the following formula to calculate the tree’s diameter.
diameter = Circumference/π
Foresters use calculations like this to estimate the volume of wood in a tree’s trunk and approximate the amount of wood in forests.
Bonus: measure the circumference and diameter of a stump, and try calculating pi. How close can you get to the actual value of pi? What could be a source of error?
Find all the worksheets and materials for this activity in my Math in the Forest unit. Plus, read about tree anatomy and tree rings in my blog posts.
5. Finding symmetry in nature
This outdoor geometry activity is great for younger groups. Nature is filled with symmetrical objects: flowers, leaves, insects, and snowflakes – there are so many possibilities! Teach your students about planes of symmetry, reflectional symmetry, and rotational symmetry. Head outside to find examples of each!
You will also find some fun symmetry activity ideas in my Geometry in the Snow unit, available for purchase in my shop.
Applied Math and Science Curriculum:
If you enjoyed these activity ideas, I think you will love my applied science and math units. They are filled with activities inspired by my experiences working as an environmental scientist. Plus, they include all the worksheets, diagrams, and math activities that you will need for an awesome lesson:
Are you interested in more nature-inspired activity ideas? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!
3 replies on “5 Outdoor Math Activities with Real World Applications”
[…] know, here at Wild Earth Lab we love math and we love being outside! So I put together this list of outdoor math activities that you can try this […]
[…] measuring snow and performing calculations, we can determine snow water equivalent, stored water, and snow-to-liquid ratios! These are all important measurements for snow […]
[…] backyard, which is perfect for teaching kids about meteorology and doing outdoor measurement and math activities! All you need is a precipitation gauge, a weather vane, and an outdoor […]