How would you test a hypothesis about birds’ feeding habits? Can you accurately compare the surface area of different leaves? Such questions and their answers can be found in Numeracy through the Environment. This excellent 44-page booklet sets out many imaginative case studies, ranging from number challenges set in botanical gardens to investigations of symmetry in natural objects. There are lots of examples of arithmetic - using sycamore seeds to count in twos or basing the five-times table on patterns in buttercup petals - as well as problem-solving and data-handling. Numeracy through the Environment is available from the National Association of Field Studies Officers (pound;6, plus pound;1 postage and packaging).

Tel: 01780 782386 www.nafso.org.uk