Pressed Botanic Specimen Project

Students will practice field collection and build knowledge of plant structure, function, and form. In this project students will press a plant they collected, and describe the plant in detail on their finished piece.  

  • Objective 
    • Students will be able to observe and record botanical details from collected plants, and present the plant as a pressed specimen. 
  • Grades: 9 to 12, adaptable to middle school
  • Time: 2 to 3 class periods
  • Author: Toby Kochenderfer

Arizona Standards Engaged

HS.L2U3.18 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate about the positive and negative ethical, social, economic, and political implications of human activity on the biodiversity of an ecosystem.

HS.L2U1.19 Develop and use models that show how changes in the transfer of matter and energy within an ecosystem and interactions between species may affect organisms and their environment.

Image of pressed botanic specimen with labels

Student Instructions

Image of a pressed botanical specimen

Pressed Specimen Rubric

Herbarium counter with different specimens displayed

Additional Resources: Herbariums