I’m sure you all remember becoming environmentalists back in the Autumn term and putting your scientific skills to use when classifying a range of leaves based on their properties. This week, we would like you to explore the different leaves you can find in your garden or on a nature walk. All of the challenges this week will be based around what you find on Day 1.

Maths Challenge Day 1: Create your own classification key.

You might draw a picture of what you find, take a photograph or take the leaf if it is on the ground. Remember to check with the adults in your house first if you want to take a clipping from any plants. Use the information in the pictures below to help you ask your questions and remember to punctuate them accurately.

Top tip: sort the leaves into different groups first then think of your questions and lay them out before trying to draw your classification tree otherwise you’ll get into a pickle. (I’m sure you can guess who didn’t do that the first time round!)

Day 1 additional challenge: Use the website below to help you identify what plant the leaves are from.

http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/trees/index2.htm

Maths Challenge Day 2: Create a range of graphs and charts using your classification key.

Using your statistics skills, make decisions about how you can present your data. You could draw the charts, use 2Graph on Purple Mash, create a graph using Excel or use a mixture. Make sure you include at least one pie chart.

Here are a range of statistics games you can play: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/data-handling

Maths Challenge Day 3: Create your own fraction problems based on your leaf investigation.

First, have a go at answering the questions on the document below (these aren’t linked to your leaves). Here you will interpret data from pie charts using your knowledge of fractions. Finally, create your own questions based on these about your collection of leaves.

Maths Challenge Day 4: Create your own percentage problems based on your leaf investigation.

First, have a go at answering the questions on the document below (these aren’t linked to your leaves). Here you will interpret data from pie charts using your knowledge of percentages. Finally, create your own questions based on these about your collection of leaves.

Maths Challenge Day 4: Create your own algebraic problems.

First have a go at answering the problems on the document below.

Using these problems as a basis, can you create your own leaf based algebraic problems? I have had a go; can you solve mine?