Flower Pressing

Materials:

Nature Journal, drawing utensils of choice, a flower press or Two pieces of cardstock and a very heavy book you can leave flat for a while, a field of wildflowers

Activity:

Go on a nature walk to a field of wildflowers. Draw some of your observations, leaving room for specimens next to your drawings. Select a few of the small delicate flowers you drew to press in a flower press or between two sheets of thick cardstock in the back of a heavy book. Leave pressed for at least two weeks then laminate or tape into your nature journals next to your drawings.

Younger: 

Have the younger children gently pinch off the flowers and set them into the press.

Older:

Speak with older children about the value of preserving specimens and the value of leaving nature untouched.

Take it Further:

Do a mini-lesson on local wildflowers, their names, how they spread, why they do so well in your location.

Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountain Region by Timber Press is one of my favorite field guides. (They have them for other regions and flora too) Regardless of what field guide you use make sure it is organized in a way that is easy to navigate and makes sense to you.