Native plant leaves – DIY classification system
In this activity, students get a taste of classification without having to work through the complexities of the Linnaean system. Students create their own informal classification systems, using visual or other characteristics, to group native plant leaves found in their local environment. The activity fosters observation skills (gathering and interpreting data) and provides practice in using and critiquing evidence.
Simple leaf shapes
New Zealand plants are often identified using the shapes of their leaves. This photo shows five common leaf shapes.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
use their senses to observe plant leaves
devise and revise their own classification system
comment on how they used evidence to devise their own classification system
comment on how they were able to critique evidence to revise their own classification system
experience why species may be reclassified as new information comes to light.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
background information for teachers
student instructions.
Nature of science
This activity is a simple way to investigate both the systematic grouping of leaves and the tentative nature of scientific classification. All students, from early primary to secondary, benefit from practising observation skills.
Related content
Read about the unique biodiversity in Aotearoa from a māramatanga Māori perspective.
Activity ideas
DIY fern classification uses fern specimens or image cards to group fern species according to their physical structures – rhizomes, fronds and sporangia.
Looking at plants and leaves is a ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resource for NZC levels 1–2. It includes opportunities for literacy, numeracy and art – as well as science.
Explore the rākau/tree unit of learning created by Mokoro Gillett (Tumuaki o Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha) and Norman Mason (Manaaki Whenua)
Useful links
Learn more about native New Zealand trees and plants with:
the Department of Conservation’s Experiencing native trees in your green space teaching resource
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research’s Key to native plants of schools and marae in New Zealand
University of Otago’s Flora Finder app
Animated video from California Academy of Sciences of the inside of a leaf, travel from centimetre scale, through to millimetre to micrometre and ending in nanometre scale.
