7th Grade Math

674 Problem-Solving Projects

YYou have been selected to join a team of botanists that will be studying leaves.

In this project, you will be collecting and analyzing leaves to find out why they

are all flat. You’ll investigate the relationship between the volume and surface

area of a leaf. So, put on your hiking shoes, and don’t forget to bring along

your geometry and measurement tools. You’re about to go on a nature hike.

What You’ll Do

Collect a variety of differently sized leaves. Record the characteristics of

each leaf, and then calculate the volume and surface area. After fi nding

the measurements, you will analyze and compare the data. Finally, you

will research the anatomy of leaves.

Materials:

• 10 leaves


• centimeter ruler


• Internet

Procedure

1. Get ConnectED Gather 10 leaves from outside your school or
   neighborhood. Record your measurements and observations in a table,
   like the one found at connectED.mcgraw-hill.com/. Trace the leaf on
   centimeter grid paper and estimate the leaf’s area.

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