Plant Museum

This activity is suitable for elementary and middle school levels. The activity is important for children to understand plant and biodiversity, and to comprehend how the vegetables and fruits they frequently see around them originate from plants. Many children today are unaware of the relationship between soil, plants, and fruits, and are distant from the knowledge nature provides us.

Objective of the Activity:

 To educate children about plants and plant diversity

 To help children understand the necessity of biodiversity in ecology

 To instill in children a sense of defending and preserving the right to life of living beings

 To assist children in developing patient and environmentally friendly characteristics

 To enable children to enjoy creating artworks and exhibiting their creations

First the Story

While Tako was going to the store to get the things his grandfather wanted, Ruka followed him. On the way, Ruka kept asking questions like "What plant is this?" and "What's the name of this tree?" Finally, Tako couldn’t take it anymore and said,

Materials

Activity

In this activity, you can use file folders as well as photo frames of different sizes.

Each week during the educational period, a plant is selected. When choosing plants, it is important to consider the seasonal growth process of that plant. Before the activity, students are given a research assignment to become familiar with the chosen plant. Students come to class with a leaf of the plant they researched. Students who cannot find a leaf may bring a printout or photograph. The leaves brought are examined by the whole class, and images/videos related to the plant are shown to the students in class.

After examining the leaves, they are placed inside a thick book to dry. Once dried, the leaves are carefully varnished and left to dry again. After the varnish has dried, they are placed inside a file folder, carefully secured with cardboard underneath and around, and framed.

The name of the plant is written in a suitable corner of the frame, and the framed leaves are hung on the classroom wall or board designated for the activity.

Warning!

This activity can be repeated over many years.

At the end of the year, an exhibition can be prepared at school with the examined leaves. Each student can be responsible for one leaf and present what they have learned about the plant and interesting facts to visiting parents or other students.

Next to the framed leaves, small sealed bags containing seeds of the plants can also be placed.

All leaves used in the activities should be from plants that students encounter, interact with, or consume in their daily lives.

Evaluation Questions

 Which plants do you recognize?

 If I showed you a plant without telling you its name, could you tell me what it's called?

 What other plants would you like to see here?

 How many days did it take to dry the plants?

 Where did you find the plant?

 Which fruit would you like to taste?

 What plants do you have at home / in your garden?