This activity may be adapted for a wide age range. Younger children may be assigned smaller spaces to survey, with fewer objects and less exacting measurements. Older students may survey areas that are larger and include a greater diversity of objects. This is a simple exercise to incorporate into other mathematical exercises, or to be used along with a discussion of land surveys, and their importance in describing original vegetation. This acitivity can also form the basis for a writing exercise.
Students analyze sediment samples combined with material that represents pollen grains.
They determine the type and amount of the pollen in the samples. From this information, they identify the age of the samples and the vegetation prevalent at that time. They also draw conclusions about the climate based on their pollen data.