Branching Out: Collections in the Classroom

Have you ever pressed a flower between the pages of an old book? If so, you’ve taken the first steps to creating your own herbarium. An herbarium is a collection of pressed plants used for scientific study. Natural history collections like herbaria contain both the beautiful specimens themselves as well as a rich store of data describing the collections. Join staff at the Morton Arboretum for a five-day workshop where you’ll learn how to create your own herbarium and how to access and utilize botanical records in your classroom. Practice conducting real science under the guidance of Arboretum botanists and learn how herbaria can inform inquiry-based student activities.

Deliverables include a preserved plant specimen and five complete lesson plans. Participants will receive a stipend. Workshop activities align with NGSS. Professional development credits are available.

Workshop to be held June 26-30, 2017 at The Morton Arboretum, 8:45am-3pm. Maximum 10 participants. Applications due May 15, 2017.