Long used in both science and art, a plant press can be a valuable addition to your science class. Easily made from inexpensive materials, a press can help your students connect their study of plants in science class to what they observe in the natural world.

Pressing plants, flowers, and even leaves can supplement your science curriculum in many ways. Students can

• gain a better understanding of plant structures,
• appreciate the diversity of plants in your local area,
• learn skills for plant identification, and
• learn about the field of botany and sampling practices.

Additionally, sampling, pressing, and displaying specimens can engage students who have a strongly developed naturalist intelligence.

First, students will need to collect specimens. You can have students bring in leaves, flowers, and plants or you can collect them on a class field trip. Be sure to discuss guidelines for sampling with your students so they aren’t disrupting gardens or other “off-limits” sources. (You can find a good general set of guidelines by scrolling down to “Important Rules and Guidelines for Collecting Plants” on this page.) If you will be taking a field trip, make sure that students will be able to collect specimens at the location.

The types of specimens collected will depend on the focus of the activity. A lesson on trees will involve leaf collection, while a study of plant parts would involve small plants (preferably with flowers and roots).

The time needed to press specimens will vary. Once completely dry, specimens can be mounted on paper using glue or tape. Students can label the plant with its name and information about where it was collected. Students could also demonstrate an understanding of plant or flower structures by labeling specimens accordingly. Students may each assemble a book of specimens, or create a class book. Alternatively, pressed flowers might be used in an art project.

Finally, universities and botanical gardens often have pressed plant collections. You might be able to arrange a field trip or guest speaker to explain how these collections aid botanists in learning and identifying the many species of plants.