Identifying Leaves of Indiana 

By: Jerry W. Kousen
Hobart High School
Hobart, Indiana


 

                                            
 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion


 





Introduction

Welcome to the forests of Indiana.  Look around and get comfortable.  You will be here for a while.  You are part of a team of four newly hired botanists for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.  People have a lot of questions about leaves and the trees they come from.   Will you have the answers they seek?  Will you be able to deal with their questions with knowledge and expertise?
 
 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion



 
 
 
 

Task
Your job is to produce a set of fact cards. Visitors walking in the state forests of Indiana will be able to use these cards to identify the most common deciduous trees of Indiana by their leaves. The leaf characteristics fact cards must include drawings of important characterics in the identification of leaves. The tree identification fact cards must include the name of the tree, type, shape, arrangement and margins of the most common leaves in Indiana.

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion






Process

The class will be divided into groups of 4. Get your group assignment from
        your teacher.

Decide which of the following roles each member of your group will assume.

  • The leaf shape specialist: This person is responsible for finding the most common shapes of leaves. All common shapes should be drawn and labeled on a 5 X 8 notecard. You should be able to find at least 11 common shapes.
  • The leaf margin/edges specialist: This person is responsible for finding the most common shapes of the teeth of the leaves. All common margins should be drawn and labeled on a 5 X 8 notecard. You should be able to find at least 9 common edges of leaves.
  • The leaf arrangement/position specialist: This person is responsible for finding the most common arrangements of the leaves on the twigs of the tree. All common arrangements should be drawn and labeled on a 5 X8 notecard. You should be able to find at least 3 common leaf positions.
  • The leaf type specialist: This person is responsible for finding the most common ways that the leaves grow from the stem. All common types should be drawn and labeled on a 5 X 8 notecard. You should be able to find at least 3 common types.
    •
    Specialists, you must now locate the required information for your leaf characteristics notecard as listed behind your role. The following sites should contain a lot of the information that is necessary for the completion of this task. You may also use leaf identification books to locate the information. On each card, the source of your facts must be listed.
    Websites for Leaf Characteristics Cards:

           What Tree Is It?

      MSU's Tree Identification Cards

     Tree Identification

      Trees In North America

     Leaf Collection

      The Big List

      Trees of Eastern North American Forests

     ISU Forestry Tree Identification
     

      Fall Color Leaves

    Tree Identification Cards Index

    Glossary of Terms

     Tree Identification

    Tree Terms Worksheet

    When each specialist has completed their leaf characteristic card, one member of the group should see the teacher for a stack of 3X5 notecards and 2 lists of trees your group will be responsible for.  Each group will have a total of 10 trees.
    On the front of each tree identification card write the name of one of the trees from the two lists below that you are assigned.  You have a total of 10 trees that belong to your group.
    Common Trees of Indiana
     
    List A
       
    1. Ash
    2. Aspen
    3. Basswood
    4. Beech
    5. Birch
    		 List B
       
    1. Buckeye
    2. Butternut
    3. Catalpa
    4. Cherry
    5. Chestnut
    		 List C
       
    1. Dogwood
    2. Elder
    3.  Slippery Elm
    4. Gum
    5. Hackberry
    List D
       
    1. Hickory
    2. Linden
    3. Locust
    4. Magnolia
    5. Maple
    		 List E
       
    1. Mulberry
    2. Red Oak
    3. Persimmon
    4. Redbud
    5. Sassafras
    		 List F
       
    1. Serviceberry
    2. Sycamore
    3. Tuliptree
    4. Walnut
    5. Willow
    List E
     
     
     

          # Boxelder
          # Ironwood
          # Gum,Sweet
          # Osage-Orange
          # Cottonwood
     
     
     
     

     

    		 List F
     
     
     

         # PawPaw
          # Coffee-Tree
          # Shagbark Hickory
          # Swamp Oak
          # American Elm
     
     
     
     

     

    		 Each Group
    Will Have 
    2 Different
      Lists to
    Work From
     
    On the back of each tree identification cardprint the following words:
    Shape:
    Margin:
    Arrangement:
    Type:

    Sources:

    As a group use the websites listed below to find a picture and description of the leaves of the trees you are assigned. Each expert should use their knowledge of leaf characteristics (shape, margin, arrangement and type) to fill in the information on the tree identification card.
    Bonus points are available if you sketch or cut and paste a picture of the leaf on the front of each card.
    Example FRONT of 3 X 5 card Example BACK of 3 X 5 card
    Staghorn Sumac

    (Bonus: picture of leaf)

    		 Shape: Lance-shaped 

    Margin: Toothed

    Arrangement/position: Alternate

    Type: Odd-pinnately compound

    Sources: www.venturenorth.com

     

    Websites for Tree Identification Cards:

     MSU's Tree Identification Cards

    Guide to Trees and Shrubs

      trees

    Tree Identification

     Leaf Collection

     Trees and Forestry

    Trees Add Beauty to Our Landscape
     

     ISU Forestry Tree Identification
     

    Tree Finder: Leaf Identification Guide
     

     The Forests of Indiana
     

    Leaf Identification Pictures

    Tree Identification Cards Index

    What Tree Is It?

     How to Identify Some Common Indiana Woods

    The Big List

    Indigenous Plants and Native American Uses in the Northeast
     
     
     
     

    Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion
     
     
     

                                     

    Evaluation

    Leaf Characteristics Cards Scoring Rubric


    accuracy of facts  1 2 3 4 5
    drawings 1 2 3 4 5
    neatness 1 2 3 4 5
    spelling 1 2 3 4 5
    works cited 1 2 3 4 5

    Group Participation Scoring Rubric


    stayed on task 1 2 3 4 5
    shared information 1 2 3 4 5
    worked well with others 1 2 3 4 5

    Tree Identification Cards Scoring Rubric


    accuracy of facts  1 2 3 4 5
    neatness 1 2 3 4 5
    spelling 1 2 3 4 5
    works cited 1 2 3 4 5

    Bonus Points for leaf sketch on front of cards _____
     
     

    Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion












    Conclusion

    Your team of botanists should know a wealth of information about Indiana's deciduous trees and their leaves. You should be able to help visitors as they ask you to identify leaves. Explain the leaf shapes, margins, arrangements and types using your leaf characteristics cards, then help people identify the trees with the tree identification cards. Teach visitors how to use your cards for their own leaf collections. Visit the forests often.

    Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion