Forests – Maths

•   Calculate and summarise statistics
•   Organise, tabulate and display data
•   Use appropriate technology to organise and present data
•   Make inferences based on data
•   Use mathematical problem-solving strategies

Exploring Understanding Actions

Exploring ideas

Mt Buffalo, Victoria

Forests for thought

This task will enable students to articulate their current understanding about Australian forests and demonstrate their understanding of the mathematical skills used in a variety of forest based occupations.

Provide pairs of students with images of people whose work relates to Australian forests. Image are located in the located in the Image Gallery, in the References section.

Students discuss the images and list observations and ideas about the types of mathematical skills required to work in different forest-based occupations such as scientists, rangers, loggers, etc.

As a class, develop a Semantic Feature Analysis chart to collate and analyse mathematical skills used by different forest-based workers.

Guide questions:

  • Are there mathematical skills common to all occupations?
  • Why is mathematics important to these occupations?

Resources

References – Image Gallery

Semantic Feature Analysis charts
These charts can be used to compare and contrast characteristics or examine the similarities and differences of a group of items, people, events etc. The Semantic Feature Analysis chart records whether each item has or doesn't have each characteristic. A plus (+) or minus (-) or checkmark is generally used, however a simple rating system (1,2,3) may be more appropriate.

 
Car A
Car B
Car C
Economical to run
+
–
+
Stylish
–
+
+
Luggage capacity
+
–
+
Smooth ride
+
+
+
Price < $35,000
+
+
–
Example feature analysis chart comparing passenger car features.


Australian forest types

This task will enable students to collect, collate, organise and present data about different forest types using technology.

Download the Australian Forest Profiles files from Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for use in this activity.

Arrange for students to have access to the Australian Forest Profiles either electronically or as print-outs.

Students collect data about types of Australian forests. They use spreadsheets and other programs to collate and organise the data. Students decide on an appropriate way to represent the data. They make comments on the data results.

Organise students into small groups ensuring that different forest types are represented by each group. Students present their findings to the class and the class comments on similarities and differences between forest types.

Resources

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australian Forest Profiles
www.daff.gov.au/brs/publications/series/forest-profiles


Forest models

This task will enable students to generate visual representations of different forest types.

Students use the following information to draw a visual representation of the different forest types demonstrating forest tree spacing. Students discuss appropriate mathematical processes to be used to create this representation, for example bird's-eye perspective, scale, location, etc.

Classifying Australian native forests

Australia's native forests are classified into three crown cover classes determined by the area of ground covered by the canopy of the trees:
•   closed forest – crown cover 80-100%
•   open forest – crown cover 50-80%
•   woodland – crown cover 20-50%

Australian native forests are also classified by height:
•   Low forest – 2-10m
•   Medium forest – 10-30m
•   Tall forest – more than 30m

(Reference – National Heritage Trust, Australia's forests)

Students use a practical problem solving approach to model tree heights from different forests using the following formula as a guide: from finger-tip to finger-tip is approximately equal to your height. Working outside, students use their calculations to create a scale model of a forest.


Economics of timber plantations

This task will enable students to use data and problem solving strategies to model possible future increases for timber plantations in Australia.

Plantations 2020
'The overarching principle of the Plantations 2020 Vision strategy is to enhance regional wealth creation and international competitiveness through a sustainable increase in Australia's plantation resources, based on a notional target of trebling the area of commercial tree crops by 2020.'
Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision
(www.plantations2020.com.au/assets/acrobat/aust_forest_plantations.PDF)

Students will need a copy of Australian Forest Plantations – Community, Environment & Sustainable Production. This document is a downloadable file from the Plantations 2020 website listed in the Resources.

Students use the estimated gross value of production information located in the section Value of production in Australian Forest Plantations – Community, Environment & Sustainable Production to calculate different outcome data for various percentage increases in area of commercial tree crops, such as 10%, 15%, etc, by 2020.

Students consider impacts on the environment, employment, local infrastructure and regional communities of increased plantation (larger population, need for extensive transport infrastructure, etc.) based on these calculations. In addition, students consider impacts on, and costs to, the environment of sustainable timber production practices.

Resources

Plantations 2020
Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision
www.plantations2020.com.au/vision/index.html

Plantations 2020
Australian Forest Plantations: Community, Environment & Sustainable Production
www.plantations2020.com.au/assets/acrobat/aust_forest_plantations.PDF