Go on a Backyard Botany Hunt!

by Chris McAllister
Topics: Fifth Grade, Science, Outdoor

Want to give your child a lesson in the wide world of plants? You don't have to go camping! You've got an amazing array of wonderful plants right in your backyard or local park. To get your child started, here's a fun activity that will have him researching, collecting, and charting plant specimens from the neighborhood. Just be prepared for a little dirt under his fingernails!

What You Need:

Large sheet of poster board
Marker or pen
Ruler
Tape or push pins
10 sandwich bags
Field guide or Internet access
Digital camera (optional)

What You Do:

Step 1
Before your child can embark on his botany hunt, he'll need to do a little research into the types of plants that are growing all around him. There are many ways to get the goods, but getting an illustrated field guide for your area from the library or bookstore is probably the best. Short of that, Internet research into the plants in your area should yield useful information and images.

Step 2
Get out in the garden! If you don't have access to a backyard, take a trip to a nearby park or nature area – anywhere plants can be found. Have your field guide with you to research and identify the plants that you see, and take photographs of the plants in their natural habitat.

Step 3
Collect 10 specimens of different plants, and place each one in a separate plastic bag. If you have many trees around, take a leaf from each. If not, mix it up with weeds, flowers, and leaves from bushes and shrubs. Make sure to only take one leaf or flower, and to be gentle. Ask permission first if you want to collect specimens from a neighbor's garden or other private property.