Describes a game in which elementary school students learn the importance of plants and some techniques of plant identification. (LS)

Describes the classification, number, and origin of wildflowers in North America. Discusses the use of a poster attached to the journal that includes activities to help students develop an awareness and appreciation of the native flora of North America. Additional activities are referred to in a list of 20 additional resources. (MDH)

Nonsense botany, an easy, amusing way of learning the principle of nomenclature, involves using English words (in Latin constructions) to describe a make-believe plant; a drawing of the plant accompanies the pseudoscientific name. Suggests that students use this technique (developed by the nineteenth century British humorist Edward Lear) when…

Activities and experiments with leaves are given for use with elementary students. Classifying and measuring are ideas which are suggested for involving children in some in-depth projects with leaves. (SA)

Describes a unit on seeds designed to introduce students to their scientific and nutritional uses. Unit activities are easily done, employ a variety of process skills, and can be used at various grade levels. Suggests field trips to gather seeds, seed sprouting, and making cookies out of various whole grains. (JM)

Described is a backyard activity that can be used to introduce children to the divisions of the plant and animal kingdoms in their local environment. Preparation, procedures and followup are discussed. Background information on taxonomy and two activity cards are provided. (CW)

Describes several hands-on science activities which focus on the use of apples. Suggests several ways of using apples to teach classification. Proposes a field trip to an orchard as a culminating activity. (TW)

Last fall, "Science and Children" invited kindergarten to grade eight teachers to participate in a study investigating students' ideas about plants and plant growth (Barman et al. 2002). Two hundred twenty-seven individuals from 16 states in the United States, one U.S. Territory, and one Canadian Province responded to this invitation and…