Welcome to the Math Trail! Get ready to explore your neighborhood and have fun while solving math problems.
Feel free to modify the trail based on the amount of time you have to explore! Have a fantastic time exploring and applying your mathematical reasoning skills in your neighborhood.
Stop 1: Street Signs Bingo
Before your adventure, have students create BINGO cards of the different polygons they know. As you begin your adventure observe the street signs you encounter and have students cross them off their BINGO cards. How many different shapes can you identify among the street signs?
Stop 2: House Numbers
Look for a pattern in the building numbers (e.g. homes, stores, buildings). Can you identify a sequence? Predict the next three numbers in the sequence and explain the pattern you observed.
Stop 3: Tree Heights
Find a tall tree in the neighborhood. Estimate its height by comparing it to nearby objects or landmarks. How does the height of the tree compare to the height of a nearby building or structure?
Stop 4: Playground Fun
Visit the playground and observe the various pieces of equipment. Which piece of equipment requires the most space? How do you know? How much space do you think it takes up?
Stop 5: Pedestrian Density
Find a busy pedestrian area, such as a park. Estimate the number of people you see within a specific area. How does the density of pedestrians compare to other areas you've visited during the Math Trail? How might this change during different times of the day?
Stop 6: Street Length
Estimate the length of the street (in meters or kilometers) you are currently on. Walk the length of the street and use cues of measurements such as steps or strides to justify your estimates. Predict if the next street will take more or fewer steps than the current street.
Stop 7: Animal Count
Observe the animal presence in your neighborhood. How many different types of animals can you identify? Create a venn diagram to help you sort your data.
Stop 8: Park Benches
Explore the park and take note of the locations of the benches. Which bench offers the best view? Describe why you think it provides a good vantage point.
Stop 9: Public Transportation
Observe the public transportation options available in the area (e.g., buses, subways, street cars). Sketch a map or diagram of a transportation route you see. Identify at least two stops or stations and estimate the distance between them.
Stop 10: Trail Conclusion
Find a comfortable spot in the area, such as a bench or a grassy area. Take a few moments to reflect on your Math Adventure. Close your eyes and think about the various math concepts and observations you made during the trail. Then, using a notebook or a sketchpad, create a visual representation or sketch that captures the most memorable math-related aspect of your expedition.