9 Creative Botany Activities to Engage School-Aged Students in Herbaria and Plant Science

This article is about sharing creative botany activities to engage school-aged students.

And what better way to believe in tomorrow than by getting young minds excited about the natural world?

If you’re reading this, you probably care about helping kids learn about plants and nature in a way that really sticks. Maybe you’re a teacher, a parent, or a homeschooler looking for fun botany activities for students that spark curiosity and engagement. Or perhaps you want to introduce herbaria for kids — those fascinating collections of pressed plants — into your classroom or learning space. Whatever your reason, you’re in the right place.

To us at The Economic Botanist, botany and herbaria are more than just “plant stuff” — they’re a gateway to curiosity, science, and connection to the environment.

In this post, I’ll walk you through why teaching plant science matters, what a herbarium really is, and, most importantly, I’ll share 9 creative, hands-on activities that will bring botany alive for school-aged students. These ideas will make plant science not just educational but fun, memorable, and easy to fit into your routine.

Ready to dig in? Let’s grow!

Why Teach Botany to Kids?

The Importance of Plant Science Education

You might wonder, “Why do kids need to learn botany beyond knowing plants are green and grow outside?” Great question! The answer is simple: plants form the foundation of most ecosystems, and understanding them helps kids grasp essential life sciences and environmental concepts.

Learning plant science for elementary students develops:

• Observation and critical thinking: Studying plants trains kids to notice details, ask questions, and analyze data.

• Scientific literacy: Understanding biology and ecology concepts early prepares them for more advanced science later.

• Environmental awareness: When kids learn how plants grow and why they matter, they’re more likely to care for nature.

• Connection to food and health: Plants are central to food chains and medicine, making botany relevant to daily life.

Botany Supports STEM Education

Botany isn’t just about looking at leaves — it’s a full STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) experience. Kids can experiment with:

• Biology: Study how plants grow and reproduce.

• Chemistry: Explore soil nutrients and photosynthesis.

• Technology: Use plant identification apps or digital herbarium tools.

• Engineering: Design plant growth experiments and data collection methods.

Incorporating plant-based STEM activities encourages problem-solving and creative thinking, essential skills in today’s world.

Botany is Fun and Accessible

One of the best parts about teaching botany is how approachable it is. You don’t need expensive lab equipment — just a park, backyard, or even a window ledge with some potted plants can serve as a living classroom. Kids love hands-on learning, and plants are always ready to participate!

What is a Herbarium and Why Use It in Classrooms?

Defining a Herbarium

A herbarium is essentially a library of preserved plants. Traditionally, scientists collect plants, press them flat, dry them, and mount them on sheets of paper with detailed labels describing where and when they were found. These collections help botanists study plant diversity, track environmental changes, and even discover new species. We cover this topic really well here if you want to dive deeper.

For kids, a school herbarium activity can be a fun and scientific way to organize their plant discoveries.

Why Herbaria Work for Students

Herbaria give students a concrete way to connect with plants. By pressing and labeling specimens, kids practice:

• Careful observation and documentation

• Scientific classification

• Understanding biodiversity

• Hands-on engagement with natural history

Even better, herbaria provide a tangible record students can revisit and add to over time. This helps build scientific habits like patience and attention to detail.

Digital Herbaria: Modern Twist

With the rise of smartphones and tablets, kids can create digital herbaria by photographing plants, using apps to identify them, and organizing collections on digital platforms like Google Slides or specialized apps such as iNaturalist. This blends traditional plant science with digital literacy, appealing to tech-savvy learners.

9 Creative Botany and Herbarium Activities for School-Aged Students

Here’s where the fun really begins. These nine activities are designed to be engaging science activities that get students excited, curious, and learning deeply about plants.

1. Leaf Pressing and Classification Project

What You’ll Do: Collect leaves from different trees and plants. Use newspaper or blotting paper to press and dry the leaves between heavy books or a plant press. Once dry, classify the leaves based on shape (oval, lobed, needle-like), size, color, or type (deciduous vs. evergreen).

Why It Works: This simple project introduces kids to plant taxonomy and plant identification for students. They learn to observe small differences and categorize living things — a core skill in biology.

Educational Outcome: Students develop attention to detail, learn scientific vocabulary, and appreciate plant diversity.

Materials Needed:

• Various leaves from outdoors

• Newspaper or blotting paper

• Heavy books or plant press

• Labeling materials (sticky notes, pens)

Pro Tip: Add a fun twist by having students sketch each leaf and write one interesting fact about the tree it came from.

2. Build a Classroom Herbarium

What You’ll Do: Collaborate with your students to collect plant specimens over several weeks. Each student or group can contribute specimens, which are pressed, dried, and mounted on paper with labels including the plant’s name, collection date, and location.

Why It Works: This collective effort teaches teamwork and creates a herbarium project for school that documents local plant life. It’s a living reference students can use throughout the year.

Educational Outcome: Students practice scientific documentation and learn plant diversity through hands-on experience.

Materials Needed:

• Plant specimens

• Mounting paper or cardboard

• Glue or tape

• Labels and markers

Pro Tip: Turn this into an ongoing project, adding new specimens each season to highlight plant cycles and changes.

3. Plant Identification Nature Walk

What You’ll Do: Take students on a nature walk equipped with field guides or plant ID apps like iNaturalist or PlantSnap. Encourage them to find and identify as many plants as possible, making notes or photos.

Why It Works: This outdoor experience combines exercise, technology, and science. It’s an interactive botany lesson that grounds classroom knowledge in real-world observation.

Educational Outcome: Students improve observation skills, learn to use scientific tools, and connect classroom learning with their environment.

Materials Needed:

• Field guides or plant ID apps

• Clipboards, notebooks, pencils

• Camera or smartphone (optional)

Pro Tip: Encourage students to share one new thing they learned about a plant during the walk — sharing reinforces memory!

4. Create Plant Profiles

What You’ll Do: Assign each student a plant species to research. They’ll explore the plant’s habitat, uses (medicinal, culinary, cultural), life cycle, and ecological role. Students then create a profile poster or digital presentation.

Why It Works: This activity develops research and communication skills while deepening botanical knowledge.

Educational Outcome: Students connect science to real-world applications and learn to present information clearly.

Materials Needed:

• Access to books, internet

• Paper or presentation software

• Art supplies for posters

Pro Tip: Invite students to bring a sample or photo of their plant to share during presentations.

5. Design a Botanical Scavenger Hunt

What You’ll Do: Create a list of plant characteristics or species for students to find outdoors, like “a leaf with serrated edges,” “a plant with yellow flowers,” or “a pinecone.”

Why It Works: Gamifying plant science makes it fun plant science and keeps kids motivated.

Educational Outcome: Reinforces plant identification skills and observation in an active way.

Materials Needed:

• Prepared scavenger hunt list

• Bags or containers for collecting (optional)

• Clipboards and pencils

Pro Tip: Tailor the list to your local ecosystem and season to make it relevant.

6. Start a Seed Journal

What You’ll Do: Give students seeds to plant in pots or a garden bed. Have them document each stage — germination, leaf development, flowering — with notes, drawings, or photos.

Why It Works: Watching plants grow builds patience and scientific observation. This links to botany lesson plans focused on life cycles.

Educational Outcome: Students understand plant development and learn to record data systematically.

Materials Needed:

• Seeds (beans, sunflowers, peas work well)

• Pots or garden space

• Journals or notebooks

Pro Tip: Add scientific questions for students to answer, like “What does your seed need to sprout?”

7. Build a Digital Herbarium

What You’ll Do: Students photograph plants, upload images to a shared folder or presentation, and add labels with scientific and common names.

Why It Works: This modern approach appeals to digital learners and promotes student herbarium ideas.

Educational Outcome: Students practice digital literacy and botanical documentation.

Materials Needed:

• Devices with cameras

• Access to plant ID apps or websites

• Digital platform (Google Slides, Padlet, etc.)

Pro Tip: Encourage students to write a short description or fact about each plant.

8. Conduct a Soil and Plant Growth Experiment

What You’ll Do: Plant the same species in different soil types (sand, clay, potting mix) or under different light conditions. Track growth by measuring height, leaf number, or color changes.

Why It Works: This introduces experimental design, hands-on botany, and the scientific method.

Educational Outcome: Students learn to hypothesize, observe, record, and analyze data.

Materials Needed:

• Seeds or seedlings

• Various soils

• Pots or containers

• Rulers, notebooks

Pro Tip: Have students predict which condition will work best and compare results after a few weeks.

9. Host a Botany Fair or Showcase

What You’ll Do: Organize an event where students display their herbarium collections, experiments, or plant profiles for family and friends.

Why It Works: This celebrates learning, boosts confidence, and encourages teaching botany to kids in a community setting.

Educational Outcome: Students practice public speaking and share their knowledge proudly.

Materials Needed:

• Display boards or tables

• Labels and posters

• Invitations to families

Pro Tip: Include interactive activities like leaf rubbing or planting stations for visitors. 

Integrating Botany into Curriculum or Homeschool Plans

If you want to make botany a regular part of learning, here’s how to weave it in seamlessly:

• Cross-Subject Connections: Combine botany with art (leaf rubbings, plant drawings), writing (journals, reports), and geography (local flora studies).

• Seasonal Projects: Match activities to seasons — leaf pressing in fall, seed journals in spring.

• Flexible Timing: Use short nature walks on busy days and longer experiments for science units.

• Technology Integration: Use apps and digital herbaria for remote or hybrid learning.

• Homeschool Friendly: Many activities require minimal materials and encourage independent learning, ideal for botany for homeschool families.

Tips for Starting a Successful Herbarium Project

A herbarium is a beautiful way to collect and study plants, but a little know-how goes a long way.

• Start Small: Begin with common, easy-to-identify plants.

• Label Carefully: Include the plant name (scientific and common), collection date, and location.

• Press Properly: Use absorbent paper and change it regularly to avoid mold.

• Store in a Dry Place: Keep specimens flat and dry to preserve them long-term.

• Practice Ethical Collecting: Only take small samples, avoid rare or protected species, and respect private property.

Additional Resources and Tools

Want more? Here are some fantastic resources to help with plant science education and making learning easy and fun:

• Apps:

  • iNaturalist: Great for plant and wildlife ID

  • PlantSnap: Instant plant recognition

  • Seek by iNaturalist: Kid-friendly nature app

• Books:

  • Botany for Kids by Georgina Hext

  • The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Gina Ingoglia

• Worksheets & Templates: Printable herbarium sheets, plant ID guides, and journal pages are widely available online.

• Websites:

  • The New York Botanical Garden’s education resources

  • Kew Gardens’ children’s activities and guides

FAQ

What is a herbarium used for in school?A: A herbarium helps students learn plant identification, classification, and scientific observation by creating a real collection of plant specimens.

How do you teach kids about botany?A: Use hands-on activities like planting seeds, pressing leaves, nature walks, and experiments to make plant science fun and relatable.

What are fun plant science activities for elementary students?A: Leaf pressing, scavenger hunts, seed journals, and digital herbaria are all engaging and educational.

Can homeschoolers create their own herbarium?A: Absolutely! A herbarium is perfect for homeschoolers to explore local plants and practice science skills at their own pace.

The Bottom Line

Teaching botany and introducing herbaria to students is one of the most rewarding ways to connect young learners with the natural world. Whether you’re pressing leaves, taking a nature walk, or experimenting with plant growth, you’re helping build curiosity, scientific thinking, and environmental care.

The best part? These engaging science activities are easy to start, accessible to all ages, and flexible for classrooms or homeschool settings. You don’t need a fancy lab — just a bit of curiosity and some natural materials.

So why wait? Pick one of these activities, gather your materials, and get outside with your students or kids. You’ll be amazed at what you discover — and so will they.

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If you found these ideas helpful, why not try one this week? Start a simple leaf pressing project or take your class on a plant identification walk. Share your experiences or questions in the comments below — I’d love to hear how your students connect with the green world around them!