Nature has so much to offer when it comes to teaching opportunities, and getting your little ones out and about in the great outdoors can be the perfect way to ignite their curiosity.
Math isn’t just about numbers and formulas. Math is a superpower that can be found all around us. From the patterns on butterfly wings to the shape of a honeycomb, the natural world is brimming with mathematical marvels waiting to be explored. Getting the kids outdoors this summer will help them discover math in its most captivating form.
Doodle Learning, creators of the Doodle Math app for kids, created fun printables to help your child explore nature while learning about math.
Shapes Galore
Nature has an abundance of shapes all around us. Take your little one on a stroll in the park or venture into the woods with your little explorers. Encourage them to spot circles in flowers, triangles in bird formations, and hexagons in beehives. Engage them in conversations about these shapes and their significance in nature. Who knew math could be this exciting?
Counting Tree Rings
Let’s step into a time machine and unlock the secrets hidden within tree trunks. By counting tree rings, your young adventurers can discover the age of a tree and even unravel tales of the past.
Each ring tells tales of rainy seasons, dry spells, and the passage of time. It’s a hands-on math experience that connects our children to nature’s history.
Buzzing with Hexagons
Honeycombs, the intricate structures created by bees, are composed of perfect hexagons. (Carefully) take your child to observe these hard-working honey producers in action.
Talk about their teamwork and how hexagons are the most efficient shape for storing honey. Your little mathematicians will be buzzing with excitement as they uncover the math behind honeybee hives.
Spirals and the Fibonacci Sequence
The name Fibonacci might not mean much to your child, but they will definitely recognize his famous sequence. Help them discover the hidden spiral patterns in sunflowers, pine cones, and seashells.
Talk about how each number in the sequence is the sum of the two previous numbers.
Symmetry
Nature loves balance and symmetry. Encourage your little artists to observe the symmetry found in butterfly wings, flowers, and even snowflakes.
Challenge them to create their own symmetrical drawings using leaves, petals, or twigs.
Fractals: Nature’s Infinite Patterns
The fractal is perhaps the most complex math in nature structure. Depending on your little one’s age, they may not quite get it. But show them the intricate shapes of snowflakes or the unfurling patterns in a fern leaf, and they’ll realize that fractals are everywhere.
Encourage your child to examine these repeating patterns within patterns. Capture your own fractal-inspired photos on your phone. It’s a chance for them to appreciate the infinite beauty of nature’s mathematical designs.
Finally, you can put it all together with Doodle Learning’s Math in Nature Scavenger Hunt.
As parents, we have an opportunity to nurture our children’s love for math by connecting it with the wonders of nature.
So, grab your little explorers, put on your adventure hats, and embark on a journey where counting, shapes, patterns, and symmetry come to life. Together, let’s inspire a generation of math enthusiasts through the magic of nature!