Plant Identification and Classification

There are four steps in this activity.  Follow the directions carefully.  The skills you learn in the first step will be used in the last.  Click on the website addresses in blue to go there.

Step 1

a.      Print the Mystery Tree Worksheet or get a copy from your teacher.  Also print these directions if you would like to.

b.      Follow the link to the website http://www.orst.edu/instruct/for241/

c.      Scroll down to “Learn more about some common” and click on “conifers”.  Read about several of the kinds, including Douglas Fir, True Fir, and True Cedar.

d.      Go “Back” to the Home Page.  Scroll to “Use a dichotomous key” and click on the link.

e.      Read the information, then start to use the key by clicking on the link.

f.       Notice that there are only two possibilities each time you have a choice.  Follow the key to a tree name.

g.      Do this for several trees.  Return to the Home Page.  

Step 2 

a.         Scroll down to “Discover the identity of a mystery tree!”  Click on the mystery tree link.

b.         Read then directions and then click on one of the mystery trees.

c.         Complete the worksheet.  To do this, read about your tree and look at the pictures.

d.         Follow the link to the Dichotomous Key.  Use your worksheet to decide which choice to make in the key.

e.         Find out what your tree is.

f.         Back up to the mystery tree page and go to the solutions to check your answer.  

Step 3 

a.      Get a tree branch sample and a paper dichotomous key from your teacher.

b.      Carefully observe and describe your sample.  The tree has many parts.  Make sure that you describe them all.  Use all of your senses except taste.  Use the worksheet to record your observations.  Fill in all of the parts that you can.

c.      Identify your sample.  Use your worksheet to decide which way to go on the key.

d.      Underline the information you used to make your first choice and write a 1 next to it.  Underline what you use to make your second choice and write a 2 next to it.  Continue until you get to a name.  

Step 4 

a.      Print a copy of the Broadleaf Identification Worksheet or get a copy from your teacher.

b.      Get a leaf sample set from your teacher.

c.      Pick one leaf.  Follow the directions on the worksheet to identify the plant your leaf is from.

d.      Repeat this process for all of the leaves in the set.

e.      When you have finished identifying all of the leaves, get a piece of construction paper.  Glue each leaf to the construction paper and label it.  

 Congratulations!  You should now be able to identify some of the trees in your forest and to describe them to a new settler.

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