Numeracy in the Landscape

•The following pages outline some of the different ways that the natural world can inspire Numeracy. Work by visiting school groups and primary school teachers on training days at Chelsea Physic Garden is also included.

• “Numeracy” refers to the proficiency with numbers and measures. It involves gathering, interpreting and presenting data as well as solving numerical ‘problems’.

•Even the smallest amount of green space can be useful for interpreting the natural world.

• The first page shows an overview of this subject, the others aim to expand upon it.

Michael Holland - Chelsea Physic Garden, U.K.

Scale & Comparisons * Measuring*

Counting*

Proportions: Fractions, percentages, ratios*

Time*

Sorting & classification*

Pattern, shape and symmetry*

Here are some of the different strands of Numeracy. Many of them have links to other curriculum areas such as History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology, Science and Literacy. Those marked * are elaborated upon in the following pages.

Area

Other

Numeracy Numeracy in the in the

Landscape Landscape linkslinks

Scale Comparison

&

Leaf areas: of different species Time scales

Large vs. Small

Weights

Comparative biomass of different trophic levels

Life spans of different plants and animals

Decay rates of different materials

Role play: imagine being the size of an ant in a grassland; or a tadpole in a pond…

Seed comparisons: e.g. Coco-de-mer (up to 22kg) and orchid seeds (as little as .001g)

The age of the Earth

Class members

Differences / similarities

Looking at the ideas of scale and comparison in the natural world can inspire a sense of wonder about its vastness and diversity and put us into perspective.

Scale & Comparison

How many plant species are native to one country compared to the world?

What proportion of seeds germinated?

How many seedlings survived?

Proportions of one species to others in a sample - grassland, pond, woodland

% of a leaf lost to herbivory

What is the ratio of apples to branches on a tree with 150 apples and 30 branches?

Of 100 Ilex leaves, what fraction or % have got 15 spikes?

What is the ratio of leaves with 15 spikes to those with 1 spike?

Looking at proportions in nature helps us focus on division, unity, comparisons, observations and different ways of interpreting the same data.

Proportions:- Proportions:- fractions, fractions,

percentages, percentages, ratiosratios

Make numbers out of natural materials

Species number in a given area/sample

Number of seeds in a fruit

Number of fruits or leaves on a plant

Number of legs on animals collected

Seed fall rates

Number of stomata per leaf

Garden visitors

Number of petals, anthers…

Number of plants in a specified area

This area of Numeracy is common throughout, consequently there are many examples of, and overlaps with, counting. Estimates and averaging are closely linked.

The origins of number systems and counting

Counting

Number sequences: e.g. Fibonacci series - allowing plants to efficiently use available space (petal number, leaf arrangements, seed packing…)

Symmetry and asymmetry: leaves, faces, tree outlines, flowers. Different types of symmetry.

Tessellation

Clearly demonstrating physical differences, the variety of shapes and patterns the landscape exhibits, inspires and enriches us.

Patterns, shapes and symmetry

Weights: People, seeds, dry vs. fresh weights,

Lengths: Paths, branches, leaves... Areas & perimeters:

Buildings, parks, gardens, windows, glass houses…

Heights: Buildings, trees, people

Girths of trees: Link to the age of a tree (approx. 2.5cm/year)

Sizes of seeds

Time

Creating suitable units for measuring: e.g. length of arm, pace, hand span

Weather data

Measuring requires the use of different units - linking to counting, comparisons and the development of spatial awareness

Measuring

Geological timescales

Evolutionary time

Astronomical events

SeasonsFall rates of different seeds

Different ways of measuring time

Decay and growth rates

The concept of time can be useful in illuminating many aspects of the natural world. It naturally links to counting and measuring and change.

Plant fossils

Make your own sundial or water clock

Looking at historical World events in the growth rings of fallen trees.

TIMETIME

Habitats, ecosystems & biomes

PlantsFamily

SpeciesSeeds

Dispersalmethod

Shape & size

Creating identification keys

Colours

Categorise plants and objects by their ethnobotanical uses

Materials

“Rubbish” bins: classify and sort- recyclables, organic.

Tensile strengths of natural materials

Here are some examples of how aspects of the natural world can be sorted and classified into different groups. Recognising & identification are integral to this.

Sorting & Classification