Problem Overview

Problem

Problem Title: Urban Forestry Course: Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 Author(s): Kim Dawson

As our community becomes more and more developed, we need to be aware of the environmental values of urban forestry. Planting trees in our neighborhoods isnt just good for the oxygen cycle, it also helps cut energy consumption by providing shade that keep buildings cooler. Our community planners need information on the trees in the area to plan for when they need to begin planting new trees. Your teams job is to survey the trees on the campus to determine the current heights of the trees. Please show all of your work for determining the height of the trees. Label each tree and their height on the campus map.

Standards/Big Ideas Addressed

Linear equations: Students solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable. Writing and solving proportions.

Likely units/big ideas that came before this problem

Fractions, decimal and percents

Likely units/big ideas that come after this problem

Linear inequalities in one variable.

Assumptions about Student Prior Knowledge

Students have used or written ratios. Students have worked linear equation in one variable.

Facilitation Notes Phase Roll out (k/ntk/next steps) Anticipated Student Action
Knows: We need to identify all trees on the campus Trees help keep energy costs down by providing shade We need to find the heights of each tree We need to put the trees and their heights on a campus map Need to knows What can we use to measure the heights? What if the trees are too tall

Notes/tips including time for phase

Have students create k/ntk list in groups. Share out as a class. Brainstorm next steps in their groups. Share out next steps as a class. Have groups decide which step they are going to do first.

Assessment

Student work time

to measure? What work will we need to show? Next Steps Identify all trees on campus Measure the height of the trees Most students will want to head outside to begin identifying tree locations and measuring their heights.

Sharing out

Students will share out what they found outside.

Direct instruction * (this can occur at different times, as long as students work on the problem first)

Work time*

Final Action on Problem

Students should be taking notes and learning the vocabulary for ratios and proportions. Students should learn how to solve a proportion with the variable in both the numerator and denominator positions. Students should be measuring their heights and head back outside to measure their shadows and the shadows of their trees. Students will recommend where to plant new trees, and when they think current trees will need to be replaced.

You will need to have a campus map and tape measurers ready for students to use. If you do not have a campus map, students could sketch one or create a digital version. Students should be seeing that for many of the trees, they arent able to measure the height directly. Encourage them to think of ways to find the height. This is a good time to make sure that everyone located all of the trees. Remind them that their tree heights should be as accurate as possible. It is likely that groups will say that they are using the height of something that they know to estimate the height of the trees. Introduce them to the idea of their height and their shadow as a ratio.

Supplemental assignment of a few proportion problems could be given at this time.

The answers on when the trees should be replaced will vary greatly as students have not been taught how tall the trees get and how long it takes

Students could be graded in content literacy, oral communication and

them to reach those heights.

professionalism (work ethic).

*These are typically optional, depending upon the nature/quality of the initial sharing out of students.

Extension Practice Problems

Follow Up Students could learn more about the height certain trees reach by using the guide on http://environ.bingham.edu/urban

Solution to Problem Please note that there is not a complete solution to this problem because each campus will be different. Below is an example of how a student might show how they determined the height of one tree. Maria is 5 feet and 5 inches tall. Her height is approximately 5.42 feet.
x 1 foot = 5inches 12 inches 5inches * feet x= 12 inches 5 feet x= 12 x 0.42 feet

Marias Shadow is 3 feet and 2 inches long. Her shadows length is approximately 3.42 feet.
x 1 foot = 2inches 12 inches 2inches * feet x= 12 inches 2 feet x= 12 x 0.16 feet

The length of the trees shadow is 9 feet and 9 inches long. The length of the trees shadow is 9.75 feet.

x 1 foot = 9inches 12 inches 9inches * feet x= 12 inches 9 feet x= 12 x = 0.75 feet

The height of the tree is 16.67 feet.

5.42 feet x = 3.17 feet 9.75 feet 52 .845 feet 2 =x 3.17 feet 52 .845 feet =x 3.17 16 .67 feet = x