Making a life-size leaf collection

In this activity, students gather, press and label plant leaves to create a life-size leaf collection. Students laminate the dried leaves for easier handling and storage.

The collections can be used to:

• create a set of life-size leaf identification guides for use in outdoor education settings

• create a record of the plants growing along a transect line to view changes in the area on an annual or biennial basis

• create a collection of plants for use in observation and classification activities

• create a set of sample leaves to find in a scavenger hunt

• create a display for aesthetic reasons – similar to the coffee table plant books of the Victorian era .

Life-size leaf collection

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Create your own plant identification book by drying, labelling and laminating leaves, flowers and seeds.

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• understand the processes used for collecting, pressing and drying plant leaves

• use resources to identify the plant leaves

• decide what information to include on an identification label

• discuss the value in having a leaf collection.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

• background information for teachers

• student instructions.