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Garden Maths

Maths hiding in garden: bug surveys

Tally insects and compare the most and least common.

Quick answer

You can use maths to count and compare insects in your garden by making a bug survey. You can record how many of each type of bug you see and then find out which bugs are most and least common.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to collect and compare data about insects in your garden using tally marks, tables, and simple maths. Success signs:
  • You can count insects and record your findings using tally marks
  • You can make a table to show how many of each bug you saw
  • You can tell which bugs were most and least common in your survey
  • You can explain why some bugs might be more common than others

Why this matters

Maths helps us understand the world around us. When you do a bug survey, you are using maths to:
  • Count things accurately
  • Organise information
  • Compare numbers
  • Make predictions about what you might find
This is how scientists and gardeners learn about the creatures that live in our gardens. You can use the same skills to understand your school class, your pocket money, or even your favourite video games!

How it works

A bug survey is a fun way to learn maths. Here's how to do it:
  1. Choose a spot in your garden to look for bugs
  2. Decide what types of bugs you want to count
  3. Use a notebook or piece of paper to record your findings
  4. When you see a bug, make a tally mark for it
  5. After you finish, add up all your tally marks
  6. Compare how many of each bug you found

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are doing a bug survey in your garden. You see these bugs:
  • 10 ants
  • 5 ladybirds
  • 3 bees
  • 7 grasshoppers
  • 2 butterflies
You can make a table to show your results:
Bug Number
Ants 10
Ladybirds 5
Bees 3
Grasshoppers 7
Butterflies 2
To find which bug was most common, you look for the highest number. Ants were seen the most with 10. To find the least common, you look for the lowest number. Butterflies were seen the least with only 2.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Great Garden Bug Hunt You are a young scientist on a mission to find out what bugs live in your garden. You have a special notebook and a magnifying glass. 1st time: You find 5 ants. Make a tally mark for each ant. 2nd time: You find 3 ladybirds. Add tally marks. 3rd time: You see 1 bee. Add one tally mark. 4th time: You spot 4 grasshoppers. Add 4 tally marks. 5th time: You see 2 butterflies. Add 2 tally marks. Now, you count all your tally marks and write them in a table like this:
Bug Tally Number
Ants |||| || 7
Ladybirds |||| 4
Bee | 1
Grasshoppers |||| 4
Butterflies || 2
Which bug was most common? Which was least common?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Confusing the number of tally marks with the actual count.
    Why it happens: Children might count the lines instead of the groups.
    Fix: Show that each group of 5 has a line through it, and count the groups of 5 and the remaining marks separately.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to add up all the tally marks.
    Why it happens: It's easy to get distracted while counting.
    Fix: Use a simple addition strategy like counting in 5s and then adding the remaining marks.
  • Mistake: Not comparing numbers correctly.
    Why it happens: Children might think the bug with the most marks is the least common.
    Fix: Ask questions like "Which number is the biggest?" and "Which number is the smallest?" to reinforce the concept.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Going on a bug hunt together and making it fun
  • Using a notebook or paper to record the findings
  • Encouraging your child to make tally marks for each bug
  • Helping them add up the marks correctly
  • Asking questions like "Which bug did we see the most?" and "Which bug did we see the least?"
  • Using the results to make a simple bar chart or picture graph
  • Noticing that some bugs are more common in certain seasons
Remember, this activity helps children practice counting, addition, comparison, and data collection skills. It's okay if they make mistakes – they're learning!

Practice questions

  1. How many legs does a ladybird have?
    Answer: 6 legs
  2. If you see 4 ants and 3 bees, how many bugs did you see in total?
    Answer: 7 bugs
  3. Which number would you use to show 8 tally marks?
    Answer: |||| |||
  4. If you counted 12 ants, 5 bees, and 3 ladybirds, which insect was most common?
    Answer: Ants
  5. How many more ants did you see than butterflies if you saw 10 ants and 2 butterflies?
    Answer: 8 more ants

FAQ

What is a bug survey?

A bug survey is when you go outside and count different types of insects in your garden or outside space.

Why do we use tally marks?

Tally marks help us count things quickly and easily. Each line represents one item, and every fifth line is drawn across the others to make a group of 5.

How can I make my bug survey more interesting?

You can make a chart, draw pictures of the bugs, or even create a bug habitat to observe them over time.

Can I do a bug survey inside?

Yes! You can look for bugs inside your home, like cockroaches, ants, or even spiders, but always be careful and ask an adult for help.

How do I know if I counted correctly?

Count your tally marks twice, or have someone else count them with you. You can also add up the numbers in your table to check your total.