Plant Hunt

Plants grow all around us. A casual glance informs us that the plants are not all the same, and a closer look reveals the distinctive features of the plants that allow us to tell them apart. We can distinguish plants from one another by considering such differences as size, shape, color, texture, and odor. Plants and animals of the same kind have characteristics that distinguish them from all other plants and animals. A group of organisms that is different from all other kinds of organisms is a species. Thus, coast redwoods make up one species of tree, while American white oaks make up another. Common dandelions and Kentucky bluegrass are two species of plants often found in lawns.

In this outdoor activity and game, learners collect and sort leaf samples to determine how many types of plants grow in the activity site. Learners are introduced to the concept of “species” and start to see differences and similarities between the plants around them. Included with the activity instructions is the “Leaf Characteristic Game,” as well as ideas for going further with leafy art projects.

Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS) is an outdoor program that offers young people fun and challenging opportunities to investigate ecological relationships in their local environment. OBIS was developed in the 1970s at the Lawrence Hall of Science to help adults (teachers, parents, community leaders) take young people outdoors to experience ecological principles in their local area. We have made several of the original 97 OBIS activities available digitally. These activities, which increase environmental awareness, can be used individually or in combination. These simple experiences then act as a gateway for children and adults to explore and understand their local environment.