[Lesson Plans Banner]

Photo-herbarium

Donald Buntman
Johnson Creek High School, Johnson Creek, Wisconsin

Subject: Science Biology
Grade: 10

"On an individual basis this project can be continued for a lifetime by interested students."

Purpose and Description of Project

This project was designed as a special activity for student volunteers. They were to create with photographs, rather than dried, pressed plant material, a mini-herbarium that would complement the teaching of a biology unit on the plant kingdom. The use of photos would avoid disruption of the local woodlots and particularly the collection of endangered plant species. In addition to increasing students' knowledge of plant characteristics and diversity, Buntman also sought to increase students' knowledge of principles of photography, and their appreciation of its uses as a scientific tool for recording information and as an art form in producing aesthetically pleasing results.

Activities

Buntman spent several days on preparatory discussion of plant groups, procedures for recording information, proper photographic techniques, and procedures for mounting and labeling photos. He used a slide/tape presentation to show the concept of the herbarium and to give students examples of what the finished product could look like. A student handout described exact project requirements: (1) Students must take photos of all the major plant groups that show group characteristics for identification purposes. (2) Photos must be mounted on 3" x 5" index cards. (3) The cards must be labeled with group name, habitat, locality, date taken, and student's name. (4) The cards must be organized from least to most complex plant group before being turned in for evaluation.

One class period was spent on demonstrating camera use and on discussing close-up photography, lighting, focus, depth of field, film speed, and exposure. Students were encouraged to do their own additional reading on photography. Then each student shot one roll of film which was commercially developed. One day was set aside for mounting and classifying photos.

Each photo-herbarium was evaluated primarily on the student's ability to identify, place, and label the photos, but also on photographic skills. The least weight was given to aesthetic quality because this was the most subjective aspect.

Materials, Resources, and Expenses

Written resource materials included books on photography and on plant identification. Although students used a variety of cameras, Buntman found that 35 mm cameras produced the best results. They also used zoom and close-up lenses, a flash attachment with extension, and a tripod. The students made use of the nearby forests and woodlots and their local neighborhoods to find photo subjects.

Outcomes and Adaptability

In Buntman's view, his students enjoyed the activity and were successful in meeting his set learning goals for the biology unit as well as for the photographic activities. He believes, based on his experiences, that with minimal instruction the average biology student can produce a very fine photo-herbarium. The need for access to a wide variety of living plants need not be a limiting factor because students could use parks, or even flower boxes and pots, as sources for specimens.

Buntman recommends this activity as an "extra" project for a group of students because the cost of purchasing and developing film for an entire class might be prohibitive. Beyond providing a means for teaching plant diversity in any high school biology curriculum, the completed projects would be appropriate for use in other subjects-e.g., as resources in life science and elementary classes, as references in art classes, and as a means of studying intrinsic geometric patterns in math classes.

| More Lesson Plans | Digital Learning Center - Educators |