HOW MANY LEAVES ON A TREE?
| Purpose: | To improve students' ability to estimate? |
| Season: | Season when leaves are on the trees. |
| Materials: | Tree, pencils, paper, and clipboard |
| TEKS: | 3.2A thru E 3.3A,C |
| Procedure: | Count the leaves on several of what seem to be typical
branches, and figure the average number of leaves per branch. Count or estimate the total
number of branches on the tree. Multiply the number of branches by the average number of
leaves per branch to find the estimated number of leaves on the tree. |
| To find the number of leaves along a certain trail or certain
area, first compute the estimated number of leaves on several representative trees in the
area, and then figure the average number per tree. Next, count or estimate the number of
trees along the trail or in the area. It is best to use just one type of tree for this
activity. (Use only Cedar Elms, Live Oaks, etc.) |
|
| This activity has potential for a number of math problems for
older children. Also, it may lead to interesting discoveries about the numbers of leaves
on different kinds of trees as well as variation in numbers on the same kinds of trees
growing in different situations, such as sunny or shady places, or areas crowded with many
trees. |
|
| To estimate the surface area of the leaves of a tree, use a ruler to make approximate measurements of each of several representative leaves. Then, compute the average area of a leaf. Estimate the total number on the tree, and multiply this number by the average surface area to find the estimated total leaf surface area of the tree. The leaf surface area of a tree is important because of photosynthesis. The more leaf surface area a tree has, the more food it may make for itself and the more oxygen it will transpire. | |
| Questions: | How can you estimate the number of leaves on a
tree? How good is this method in your view? What other methods could be used? |
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