Name: Bunny McHenry

Home: Citra, Florida

School: North Marion High School

Subjects: Applied Mathematics I & II

Activities:

Mu Alpha Theta Sponsor, Mathematics Department Chair, Curriculum Committee Chair, Technology Team, and Planning Committee.

Special interest:

Crafts, animals, reading, gardening

 Other Summer and NSF workshops:

University of North Florida, 1996,1997, Using Technology and Writing in the Mathematics Classroom.

SIMMS Workshop,1995

True Project:

Growing of cottonwood trees for commercial harvesting.

Research project directed by Dr. Donald Rockwood , with the help of Marcus Warwell.

 Favorite Field Trip:

The Lubee Foundation,Inc.

European Fruit Bat

  Labs developed for Applied Math I classes.

Adopt-A-Tree 1

Equipment: Cottonwood or Eucalyptus tree

Ruler

Caliper

Pencil, paper

Calculator

Given: Some species of trees are fast growing and are able to provide shade, lumber, or fuel in just a few years. We will be observing cottonwood and eucalyptus trees over the course of the term. Each group will be assigned a different tree to observe, maintain, measure, predict and hopefully grow to love. You will become acquainted with your tree in this lab.

Procedure:

1. Where is your tree located? Draw a map of the school and show the location of your tree.

 2. Make a sign to post near your tree to identify its name and to which group it belongs.

 3. Draw a picture of your tree. (Use a full sheet of drawing paper.)

 4. Using graph paper trace a leaf. Determine its surface area. Count the total number of leaves and determine the total leaf surface area of your tree.

 5. Measure the height, trunk diameter, and trunk circumference of your tree. Determine the ratio of the total leaf surface area to the height. Determine the total volume of your tree.  

6. Make a scale drawing of your tree. (Let 1 inch = 1 foot)

 7. Write several descriptive paragraphs (or a poem) about your tree. In these paragraphs give the following information: Is your tree alive (how you can tell)?, is it healthy, in what ways are people helping or hurting it, describe it, what does its leaf look like (smell and feel (texture) like), describe the bark, name any animals on or near your tree (don’t forget insects, spiders, and other small animals), signs that animals have used your tree in the past for food or shelter, did they harm it in any way?

 8. Begin a log on the care you give your tree. Set aside several pages of your journal for this purpose.

Adopt-A-Tree 2

Equipment: Your tree

ruler

caliper

pencil, paper

calculator

 Given: It has been about a month now since you took some data from your tree. We will now see what has been happening to your tree.

 Procedure:

1. Draw a picture of your tree. (USE A FULL SHEET OF DRAWING PAPER.)

 2. Using graph paper trace an average size LEAF. Determine its surface area. Count the total number of leaves. What is the total leaf surface area for the tree?

 3. Measure THE HEIGHT, DIAMETER, AND CIRCUMFERENCE OF YOUR TREE. Determine the ratio of the total leaf surface to the height of the tree. Determine the total volume of your tree.

 4. Make A SCALE DRAWING OF YOUR TREE (LET 1 INCH =1 FOOT).

 5. On a separate sheet of paper make 4 graphs using the data from "adopt-a-tree 1 & 2" showing the height, trunk diameter, trunk circumference, total leaf surface area, and total volume of your tree over time.

 6. Based on this data make a prediction as to what you think your tree’s height, trunk diameter, and trunk circumference will be in one month. Draw these predictions in RED on your graph.

 7. Reread the paragraphs you wrote in "adopt-a-tree 1". Compare and contrast your tree as it is now to how it was then.

Adopt-A-Tree 3

Equipment: Your tree

Ruler

Caliper

Calculator

Pencil, paper

Purpose: Second follow-up on your tree. You will continue the graphs you began in tree lab 2.

Procedure:

1. Make a full page drawing of your tree.

 Make a rubbing of a leaf and the bark of your tree.

 3. Using graph paper trace an average size leaf. Determine its surface area. Count the total number of leaves and find the total leaf surface area of the tree.

 4 Measure the height, diameter, and circumference of your tree. Determine the ratio of the total leaf surface area to the height of the tree. Determine the volume of your tree. Use these measurements to make a scale drawing of your tree.

5Add the data you collected today to the graphs you began in "Adopt-A-Tree 2".

4. How did these measurements compare to the predictions you made for your tree last month? What do you think could have caused any of these differences?
5. Predict what the height, truck diameter, and circumference will be in another month. Add this to your graph in GREEN.
6. Write a descriptive paragraph about how your tree has changed in the last two months. Be sure to include all the elements you included in your tree lab 1.

Send me a note FSUBunny@worldnet.att.com

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