Plant Scavenger Hunt
This activity is more about learning plant vocabulary and traits than searching for items. It also works for all
age levels by just adapting the vocabulary. You can develop your own list by touring your schoolyard to see
what is available. Below are 10 suggested things that can be adapted for your plant hunt. This version includes
the list with the appropriate vocabulary for three age levels: 2-3, 4-6, 7-adult. Make sure to describe the exact
area within which they can hunt for the objects. Also, obviously no one can collect a tree, so tell them that if
the object is too big (or will hurt the plant to collect it), they can just name or draw it on their answer sheet. Ask
them to find the following things:
2-3 (Answer Key)
4-6th Grade
7th Grade to Adult
1. leaf
plant part that collects sunlight
photosynthetic collection structure
2. flower
plant part that attracts insects
for pollination
structure that houses reproductive organs
3. acorn or
other seed
any plant seed
embryonic plant ready for dispersal
4. root
plant part that collects water
hydration collection structure
5. mossmossnonvascular, non-seed-bearing, green plant
6. fern
fern (or clubmoss)
vascular, non-seed-bearing, green plant
7. any green plant
plant with green stem and leaves
vascular, seed-bearing, herbaceous plant
8. tree
plant with trunk and branches
vascular, seed-bearing, woody plant
9. grass
plant leaf that grows as a lawn
sample cultivated leaves used to carpet large areas
10. plant stem
part that holds plant upright
structure that houses xylem transport system
Bonus:
11. rock
abiotic mineral object
abiotic mineral object
©Sheri Amsel www.exploringnature.org
Vascular Plants vs. Nonvascular Plants
Plants are broken down into two main groups. They are either vascular or nonvascular.
Nonvascular Plants include the mosses, liverworts and hornworts. These are also called bryophytes. They are
small, short plants found in wet places. Their gametophyte generation dominates. The sporophyte generation
grows from it and depends on it for food.
Vascular plants make up about 80% of all plants. They have special tissues in their stems to move water and
nutrients up and down the plant. This allows the plant to grow to a much larger size. They are also characterized
by their reproductive phase. In vascular plants the sporophyte generation is dominant.
Vascular plants are broken down into three groups:
1. Seedless vascular plants – the ferns, horsetails and clubmosses.
2. Naked seed vascular plants - the conifers.
3. Protected seed vascular plants – the flowering plants, grasses and deciduous trees.
Use the following poster to illustrate the differences. Then try the Plant Terminology Quiz.
Match the Name to the Plant Part
Age: 2-3rd grade
______ 1. leaf
______ 2. flower
______ 3. seed
______ 4. roots
______ 5. moss
______ 6. fern
______ 7. plant
______ 8. tree
______ 9. grass
______ 10. trunk of tree
©Sheri Amsel
www.exploringnature.org
Match the Description to the Plant Structure
Age: 4-6th grade
____ 1. plant part that collects sunlight
____ 2. plant part that attracts insects for pollination
____ 3. any plant seed
____ 4. plant part that collects water
____ 5. moss
____ 6. fern (or clubmoss)
____ 7. plant with green stem and leaves
____ 8. plant with trunk and branches
____ 9. plant leaf that grows as a lawn
____ 10. part that holds plant upright
©Sheri Amsel
www.exploringnature.org
Match the Description to the Plant Structure
Then Name the Structure
Age: 7th grade to adult
____ 1. photosynthetic sunlight collection structure
____________________________
____ 2. structure that houses reproductive organs for pollination
____________________________
____ 3. embryonic plant ready for dispersal
____________________________
____ 4. hydration collection structure
____________________________
____ 5. nonvascular, non-seed-bearing, green plant
____________________________
____ 6. vascular, non-seed-bearing, green plant
____________________________
____ 7. vascular, seed-bearing, herbaceous plant
____________________________
____ 8.vascular, seed-bearing, woody plant
____________________________
____ 9. cultivated leaves used to carpet
large areas
____________________________
____ 10. structure that houses xylem
transport system
___________________________________
©Sheri Amsel
www.exploringnature.org