Mathematical measuring - lengths of leaves

The natural environment – measuring leaves

Trees and their leaves are an important part of our natural environment. We can use our maths and science knowledge to better understand them and hence the environment around us!

In this activity each participant chooses a tree to collect six leaves from. Once the whole class has collected their leaves, return to the classroom to measure the lengths and widths of six leaves from a single tree. Place this data in a table and then calculate the mean average length and width of the leaves from the tree.

As a class discuss the meaning of these values. What do they tell us about the size of the leaves on each tree sampled?

Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum; they are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science.

This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners how to collect data and calculate the mean value of a data set. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on the use of maths and science to understand the natural environment.

Tools/resources required
Access to an outside area with trees and leaves
Rulers and/or tape measures
Calculators

The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

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