Naming plants

Naming plants

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about using a classification to identify plants.
Leaves-in-groups-diagram.png
Use the key to answer the following questions.

Question

a)  i)   Use the key to find the name of this plant.
puriri-leaf.png

    • kawakawa

    • pōhutukawa

    • titoki

    • kauri

    • whauwhaupaku

    • puriri

Question

     ii)  Use the key to find the name of this plant.
Titoki-leaf.png

    • kawakawa

    • pōhutukawa

    • titoki

    • kauri

    • whauwhaupaku

    • puriri

Question 2Change answer

b)  What feature of the leaves other than those in the key could you look at to identify kowhai from black beech?
kowhai-leaf.png black-beech.png
kowhai black beech
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online (with SOME auto marking).
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
evolution, classification, plants, leaves, keys, classification keys
Description of task: 
Task: Students use observation and a key to identify native plants. Assessment focus: Using a classification key.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss using identification keys to classify plants.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Making Better Sense: 
Generic/Mixture
Answers/responses: 
 

Y9 (04/2005)
a) i)
ii)		 puriri
titoki		 easy
easy
b)   Any 1 of:

  • Size of leaves
  • Colour of leaves
  • Hairy or smooth
  • Shiny or dull
  • Spacing between leaves
  • Veins/pattern on leaves
  • Buds
 easy

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 

The most common error made by students in question b) was identifying a feature that was shown in the key. Size (38% of students in the trial mentioned this) and veins or pattern on leaves (26%) were the most common features identified. Approximately 30% of the students in the trial correctly identified more than one feature that could be used to identify the plants.

Identity parade is a Level 4 resource that deals with using a key to identify insects. It could be used to reinforce learning with any students who require further practice of this skill.