Funky Maths In The Forest
This report is about the contrast between mathematics and Forest
schools it will contain how maths is related to:
Tree Height , Age and
Circumference
Bearings
2D and 3D Shapes
Cutting Wood
Estimation
Grading and Sorting
Curriculum for Excellence
Tree Height, Age and Circumference
The way to find out a trees height is by starting at the bottom of the
tree you are measuring and then walk forward in a straight line away from
the tree occasionally look under your legs to see if you can see the top of
the tree if you can get the other people with you to measure the
distance, in a straight line, between you and the tree. Then however long
the distance is between the tree and you is how tall the tree is. So once
you’ve got this measurement you have to do some more maths and
measure around the circumference about 1.5 meters off the ground and
then divide it by 2.5 if there is no trees within 6 meters and if there is
divide it by 1.2 and that’s how you find out approximately how old the tree
is.
Bearings and Compass reading
Bearings and compass reading, down at the forest is lots of fun and very
educational. We learn how to find North, South, East and West and how
to use a compass and to find your house when you’re lost which is, though
it may not seem, very useful. We learned how angles are linked to degrees
and how they are related to compasses. We learned how to read a
compass by making a big one on the ground at forest schools. To make a
compass on the ground we first had to find north once we found north we
gathered together twigs, sticks and stones. Then we had to draw a
biggish circle; after that we put the bearings in there correct positions
and there you go, a compass
2D and 3D Shapes
2D and 3D shapes are quite often needed down at the forest because
they are important when building shelters, fires, seating, bird hides,
obstacle courses, tepees and other activities that are done at the forest.
They are used for building shelters because shapes are involved in making
the structure sturdy. Triangles are the most strengthened shape to use
when building shelters. Rectangles are good but not as strengthen as
triangles. Squares can be used but not for very many shelters. Fires are
made with a cone shaped triangle, tepees, and are good for harnessing
wind to use to make the fire more enflamed.
Cutting Wood
Maths is also involved in cutting wood because you have to use your
knowledge of estimation and measurement because you need to know what
sort of length you need because if you cut it the wrong length you’re
going to have to start again ,with another bit of wood,.
Estimation
Estimation is probably the thing you will use the most because when you
are in the forest you don’t have everything that you would have on the
classroom like we don’t have measuring tapes, calculators and pencils
,unless you take them done,. So when you are at the forest you have to
use your resources sensibly and not waste them.
Grading and Sorting
We do a lot of grading and sorting when building a fire we have to make
piles of thick logs, pencil thickness, tinder, fire safety kit and newspaper.
Before we sort the various types of wood out we need to collect all the
different types and make sure they are dry to do this we snap of the end
and if it make a loud CRACK noise then it is dry and if it doesn’t crack and
is green inside the piece of wood is dry, damp or still alive. A way to store
wood ,and keep it dry, is putting the piece of wood vertical leaning against
a tree of something quite tall but don’t lie it horizontally on the floor
because it will go damp and soggy
Curriculum for Excellence
I am a successful learner because I have learned that maths in the forest
is actually quite similar to maths in the classroom it is just a different
way ,but more fun way, of teaching it.
I am a Responsible citizen because I can responsibly lead a group
throughout an activity at forest schools.
I am a confident individual because I can confidently show other people
how to carefully use and handle tools.
I am an Effective contributor because I can contribute a opinion to a
discussion of how we did at the forest.
Sentence Starters
Through doing maths at forest schools I have learned that you use maths
every day and sometimes you don’t even realise.
What I enjoy the most is doing practical maths because it really suits
what I like to do because I really like being outdoors.
Right Now I feel that every school and every age group should do some of
there weekly maths outdoors because it is healthy and fun plus you still
get to do maths.
I hope that from reading my report that you’ve picked up on a Childs
opinion of what they think of forest schools/outdoor learning because it
is really important that you get our views and on quite a lot of peoples
behalf I think that most of the people that do maths outdoors enjoys
doing it!