Math in Nature 3rd Grade

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This collection of five lessons explores 3rd grade mathematical concepts in the context of the outdoor classroom. These lessons span various math and science curricular units and include:Arrays in Nature (modeling multiplication)Measurement in Nature (length/mass and traits of organisms)Fraction Snow Cakes (fractions)Engineering and Design - Flight (measurement/data and forces)BioBlitzes (measurement/data, diversity and traits)

Material Type: Learning Task, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Suzy Zietlow

Bird Math

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The three teachers of the third and fourth grade team joined forces to create these standards-aligned resources. We discussed a middle-school curriculum unit, Birds & Flight, that one of us had written about fifteen years ago regarding using math to study and understand birds in different ways. As a team, we translated some of those concepts into middle-elementary activities.We discussed that the lessons could be taught in any order, but recommend using the Actual Size lesson as a fun capstone project.

Material Type: Lesson, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Amy Milz, Denise McFarlin, Ned Dorff

Measurement and Data in Nature

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This unit focuses on measurement and data for second-grade. The second-graders learn how to accurately measure natural objects using nonstandard units (unifix cubes) and standard units (inches). During field experiences, the students learned how to use field guides and how to collect data for a BioBlitz. Students used their data to create bar graphs, picture graphs, and analyzed their data.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Melissa Wimmler

Math in the Field

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High Marq Environmental Charter School is a project and place based school that serves grades 6-12 in Marquette County, Wisconsin.Each week our students participate in a full day field experience designed to connect, explore and engage with the outdoors. These lessons were all a part of those experiences with the exception of the math language field guide which was part of a math seminar.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Tiffany Lodholz, Lisa Biber

WISELearn Resources OER Template: Numbers By Nature

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This is the template for your Numbers By Nature OER project.You may find it easiest to copy and paste the content of this resource into a Google or Word document to create your OERs.Please change the title and add the required content as well as any other non-copyrighted content you would like to share with other educators. You may utilize copyrighted materials in your instruction. Please share the citations of these materials, but do not include the content of copyrighted materials in your OERs.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Sandy Benton

Monarch Math

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Author: Ned Dorff, Teacher, Aldo Leopold Community School, Green Bay Area Public SchoolsUnit Title: Monarch MathGrade Level: 2nd gradeContent Areas: Mathematics, Science, Social StudiesContext: Second grade students engaged in a seven-lesson integrated math, science, and social studies unit of study of monarch butterflies, migration, life cycles, and habitat needs. The unit concluded with students proposing environmental actions to help protect and support the endangered Monarch butterfly.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Ned Dorff, Kelly Llanas

Garden Math

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Authors: Tiffany Lodholz, Morgan May, Jenny GrimesSchool: High Marq Environmental Charter School, Montello School DistrictUnit Title: Garden MathGrade Level: 7-12Content Area(s): Environmental Science, MathematicsContext:High Marq Environmental Charter School is a project and place based school that serves grades 7-12 in Marquette County, Wisconsin. Each week our students participate in a full day field experience designed to connect, explore and engage with the outdoors. These five lessons were all a part of those experiences. Our focus this year was on gardening. All of these lessons took place in the school garden on campus, Our school district has a greenhouse for us to start seeds in and our garden uses primarily raised beds. The students also traveled to a local greenhouse to purchase supplemental plants, soil, mulch, hay, and other accessories.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Tiffany Lodholz, Jenny Grimes, Kelly Llanas

Dream Garden Measurements

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Unit Title: Dream Garden MeasurementsAuthor: Melissa WimmlerSchool: Discovery Charter School, Columbus School DistrictGrade Level: 2nd GradeContent Area(s): Math, Environmental ScienceContext: Our governance council is working on a school wide project to improve the lawn space in front of our school and create our dream garden. During this six-lesson unit the second-grade students estimated and accurately measured objects in the space and perimeter. The students calculated the area of the space and used square units to plan spaces and garden beds.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Melissa Wimmler

Square Foot Gardens: Healthy Spaces for People and Pollinators

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“Square Foot Gardens: Healthy Spaces for People and Pollinators” is an interdisciplinary unit of study for twenty-four second grade students at Maple Grove Charter School. Part of a year-long science program, the unit complements the second grade EL Education English Language Arts Curriculum in which two Modules (approximately 18 weeks of literacy instruction) focus on the following guiding questions from Modules 3 & 4: “How do plants grow and survive?How do pollinators help plants grow and survive?How do we get the fruits, flowers, and vegetables that we enjoy?How do we become researchers and share our learning?Why should people help pollinators to survive?How can I take action to help pollinators?” (https://eleducation.org ) 

Material Type: Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Victoria Rydberg-Nania

Urban Runoff and Its Impact on the Community and Beyond

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Unit Title: Urban Runoff and Its Impact on the Community and BeyondAuthor: Anthony Jordan, Franklin High School, Franklin Public SchoolsGrade Level: 9-12Context:  This unit of study combined mathematics, environmental science, and literacy while also incorporating a real world context. Students began the unit of study by looking at specific examples of environmental impacts of rainwater runoff and the contaminants they contain. In addition, students used these articles to build context knowledge and dive deeper through research on the reasons behind stormwater runoff, the systems in place, and solutions to solve this problem on a local, national, and global level. Afterwards students began to incorporate how to calculate the amount of stormwater runoff and utilized GIS and google earth to develop a deeper understanding of how to accurately calculate the area of impervious surfaces. Finally, students compared the amount of runoff calculated and were able to construct a project on how to address building a greener school. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Unit of Study

Authors: Sandy Benton, Kelly Llanas