This can be a very informative and interesting lesson carried out by engaging in a nature walk.

Paper folding is one activity used in the class to teach symmetry.

Linked with Reflection.

Can be integrated with Art. 

They were also given a budget, each piece of equipment cost varied and they had to make sure they stayed in budget while creating the most fun friendly playground. 

This isn't exactly using nature to show math but it was math in nature and they were SOOOO engaged - it was a hit! 

Thanks for sharing the great resources. I'll be using some of your ideas as well!

I teach a lot about measurement and estimation outside. My school yard is quite large. I find kids can estimate in cm and m, but have a hard time grasping how long a km is. Our yard is approximately 300 metres deep and similar width. A lot of kids estimated the distance across to be 1 or 2 kilometres. As soon as I referenced our track for track and field, a lot of kids clued in relating the 100m race to the full length of the field. Very cool to see the "lights" turn on. 

I have also done nature walks where we count how many leaves are on a branch, then we estimate how many branches the tree has. We then make an estimate about how many leaves the whole tree has. We talk about how estimation isn't just a guess, you need to something to base your estimate off of.  (Sorry Lynn, longer than I thought)!

The roofs of houses are a good source of 3d shapes, angles, and a great source for investigating and understanding the nets of the shapes. I(f you have clear protractors, they can hold them up and find the angles of the roof lines.)

There are lots of Nature walk resources for math, science (habitats, structures)

Here is a document outlining some procedures we were asked to take while learning outdoors.

I tend to incorporate art, math, and nature regularly in the classroom. Its, seamless and so easily transitioned! 

Measurement in seasonal changes, sequential order of sticks and leaves, to the addition and subtraction of acorns! 

I stumbled unto this and I love this website: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/using-gardens-to-teach-math.htm  

I have a friend, who planted multiple gardens with her grade 5/6 class in math class (raised garden boxes to keep the critters out). The class was able to eat the fruits of their labour at the end :)  The kids loved this project!!

And I found this website that lists the top 10 movies for math. I will admit that I have seen a few of these ;)

I could use my maple syrup example with my students by posing a problem (Q. Would is be possible to collect enough sap for everyone in the class to have their own 1L bottle from the trees around the school?) 

Kids would have to collect data (determine how many students, how many trees we have on the property that Maple Tree's. They'd research how to identify a Maple first lol. Then the kids would use measurement and computation skills to determine 'if one full size maple tree can produce 10 gallons per seasons, determine how much each student would receive? 

For the younger grades, even drawing numbers in sand helps with fine motor and number practice. Patterning with nature is so great because, again, it's hands-on and a visual representation of patterns. It allows for creativity and is very open-ended as students could make an AB pattern, ABA, ABC, ABBA, etc. It's their choice and, as the educator, it tells a lot about the student simply just by the pattern they chose to create.