LESSON #3: Leaf it to the Students!

Focusing Question:
What are the characteristics of leaves?

Vermont Standards addressed:

1.15 a	Students assume roles in group communication tasks.
3.10	Students perform effectively on teams that set and achieve goals, conduct investigations, solve problems and create solutions.
5.30	Students seek, record, and use information from reliable sources, including scientific knowledge, observation, and experimentation.
7.13bb	Students identify and use anatomical structures to classify plants.

Length of Lesson:
80 minutes

Resources/Materials:
Botany Treasure Hunt Cards, bag of 25 different (if possible) plants, large zip-lock baggies, forest, science journal

Procedure: 

1.	Gather students in a circle. Have all students close their eyes for this activity.
2.	Pass out ONE plant leaf to each student. The students will use their senses of touch and smell to observe all the characteristics of that plant. Be sure to have students carefully study the margins, veination, size, shape, thickness, etc.
3.	Collect all the leaves, then have students draw in their journal what they believe their leaf looks like. Beside the drawing, have students attribute adjectives to describe their leaf.
4.	One-by-one, remove the collected leaf from the bag and have the students determine if it's his/her leaf.
5.	As a student claims his/her leaf, have them justify why it's their leaf. They must use adjectives and/or specific details to describe (5 lobes, toothed margins, petiole as long as my thumb, sandpapery surface, 7 leaflets, etc.) This will introduce students thinking about the variation of leaves as well as an introduction to some plant terminology.
6.	Repeat with 9 more different leaves.
7.	Assign groups of 2-3 persons. Distribute Botany Treasure Hunt Cards.
8.	Remind students to stick close to the trail and not trample the forest floor.
9.	Demonstrate HOW to pick a leaf (gently snap petiole at base) without disrupting other leaves.
10.	Using their Botany Treasure Hunt Cards, groups will use the clues to find a leaf that fits the description. Leaf samples will then be put in the zip-lock baggy.
11.	Using their Botany Treasure Hunt Cards, groups will use the clues to find a leaf that fits the description. Leaf samples will then be put in the zip-lock baggy.
12.	Gather back into a circle. Read leaf description #1 on the treasure hunt card. Have each group present and describe that leaf. This is a good time to begin identifying the genus and species or common name of that plant. Repeat for remaining leaves on the treasure hunt.

Return to front page of unit