Due Dates (No Excuses! They are due by 3:30 pm on the date they are due. Much reduced credit for late projects!)

Periods 1-4: Monday May 23, 2005

Periods 5-8: Tuesday May 24, 2005

The List of Plants You are to Find:

Extra Credit: Photos or Pressed Plants (No Drawings) of a maximum of 5 wild plants.

* All plants will be displayed one per page on white or light colored paper. Each plant must have a label on the page that lists a) the common name. b) scientific name, and c) the family name.

* Your project may be a mix of photos, drawings, and pressed plants. However, a minimum of 5 pressed plants are required and the extra credit plants must be pressed plants or photos.

* Your project will be contained in an inexpensive folder, notebook, or photo album. The folder or album will contain:

a) Title Page (Appropriately and neatly decorated is nice) - 10 pts

b) Table of Contents in the same order as the plants are given in the table above. Any extra credit plants are to be displayed at the end.

c) Each plant is worth 5 points. The biggest point deductions (-5 pts) is given for plants that are incorrectly identified. Grading criteria for each method of collection will be given below:

a) All photos must contain a small card with the student's name displayed in the photo (See examples). Failure to do this is an automatic deduction!

b) Photos should be close enough to show details of the flowers and a leaf or two at least.

c) Photos should be in focus for maximum points. Slightly out of focus photos (-1 pt); very out of focus photos, but plant recognizable (-2 pts); plant can't be identified from photo (-5 pts)

Examples of Photos:

[Perfect Picture #1] [Perfect Photo #2] (full credit)

[Fair Photo #1] [Fair Photo #2] [Fair Photo #3] (reduced credit)

1. Pressing and Drying Plants using Newspapers and Books (for weight):

a) This method takes up to 2 weeks during cool weather.

b) Place the plant in a piece of newspaper (several pages worth). Arrange the leaves and flowers so they look good.

c) Place between 2 pieces of flat cardboard if possible. If no carboard is used, place a second plant in newspaper, and place on top of first.

d) Repeat b & c for as many plants you have.

e) Place in a warm spot (atop a refrigerator or near a heaing vent).

f) Important: Place several wide, heavy books on your plants to flatten your plants.

g) Check your plants every couple of days. If the paper is wet, put the plant in drier paper to help speed drying!

h) Plants will be dry when they feel dry to the touch and fairly stiff (not limp).

i) Important: Warn your family that the newspapers are your plant collection so the plant collection isn't recycled or used in the wood stove!

 

2. Microwave Method of Pressing & Drying Plants:

The microwave method works best for small plants. It does not work well with any plant having a woody branch!

a) This method takes up to 5 minutes, but make sure the plant is really dry!

b) Practice with a dandylion or other expendable plant before trying this method to find out how long to cook your plant!

c) Place the plant in the middle of some newspaper (several sheets). Arrange the leaves and flowers so the plant looks good.

d) Cover the plant with more newspaper.

e) Place newspaper containing plant on bottom of microwave.

e) Place a flat-bottomed microwave-safe pyrex casserole dish (big enough to cover plant) atop newspaper (to flatten plant).

f) Microwave several minutes (perhaps only 1 minute on a powerful microwave, up to several minutes on a smaller microwave).

g) Remove plant and newspaper from microwave. Let plant cool before testing for dryness.

h) When dry, the plant will feel dry to touch, and moderately stiff. If it appears yellow, brown, or black, you've microwaved too long!

i) Important: Be aware that plants and newspaper will catch on fire in the microwave if heated too long!

j) Important: Do not microwave poison oak in a microwave!

a) Drawing size should be a minimum of 5-6 inches tall and up to 6 inches wide. Sign your name near the plant.

b) The plant drawing should show details of both a flower and and at least 1 leaf. The details should represent what the flower and leaf look like in terms of color, shape and leaf venation.

c) The drawing should be colored appropriately.

d) Books are available from your teacher for use in class before or after school or use the pictures on the flower notes you have taken.