Ethnobotany Bingo
Essential Question:
What are the ethnobotanical properties and origins of many
commonly used plant products?
Location: indoors or
outdoors (with tables)
Background:
Ethnobotany is the study of plants and how people use them.
Ethnobotanists study both the plants and the people who use the
plants for culinary, medicinal, textile, ceremonial, or other
purposes. Many commonly used plant products have been
discovered by studying other cultures.
Objectives: Learners will
1) define ethnobotany.
2) discover many
commonly used
products, medicines,
food, and textiles that
have plant origins.
3) locate the geographic
origin of commonly used
plants.
4) identify cultural groups,
past and present, that
discovered certain uses
for plants.
For specific plant information, review the GEN Ethnobotany
PowerPoint notes/narration and the table of plants below.
Skills: geography,
history/cultural context,
connections
Getting Ready:
Print the Ethnobotany Bingo cards from the GEN Resource CD.
They will print two to a page. Cut the cards apart. Print on
cardstock and/or laminate for durability.
Supplies:
Ethnobotany Bingo cards
Bingo chips
GEN Ethnobotany
PowerPoint (if not shown
in previous stage of lesson)
At a Glance:
Learners play a game of Bingo to develop a deeper understanding
of the ethnobotanical plants presented in the GEN Ethnobotany
PowerPoint presentation.
Procedure:
1. Briefly review major points from the GEN Ethnobotany
Time: 15 minutes
PowerPoint that was shown in earlier in this lesson. Ask
learners which plant and use was most interesting to them. Were you surprised by any of the
plants and their ethnobotanical uses or origins?
2. Tell students that they are going to play a game of Bingo based on the plants that they just
learned about. All of the plants that were in the PowerPoint, plus some additional ones, will
be used in the game.
3. Pass out Bingo cards and chips and explain the rules of the game. The names of the plants
will be called out by the instructor. If the learner has that plant name on their card, they are to
place a bingo chip on that square. There also is a „Free Square‟ in the middle of the card.
Once they have five squares covered in a row, in any direction (up, down, diagonal), they are
to call out, “BINGO”.
4. Play multiple rounds, so multiple learners may have the opportunity to win.
5. To make the game more informative, have learners call out a use of the plant when you call
out the plant name. Alternatively, you may say the plant name, origin, and a few of the uses
as part of the position of „Bingo caller‟.
Discussion/Assessment:
Name five ethnobotanical plants and their uses.
Which plant and use surprised you the most?
Which plant do use most often?
Can you think of other plants and their uses that were not mentioned in this activity?
Table of Plants with Ethnobotanical Uses
Plant
Papyrus
Africa
Cinchona
Hevea (Rubber tree)
Willow
Cotton
Bamboo
Aloe
Coffee
South America
South America
Europe
Asia
Asia
Africa
Africa
Ginseng
Chili pepper
Cacao
Foxglove
Lemongrass
Lamb‟s Ear
Indigo
Peanut
Asia
Latin America
Latin America
Europe, parts of Asia
and Africa
SE United States
Africa
Asia
Cosmopolitan
SE United States
Africa
Central America
Polynesia
North America,
Europe, Asia
Asia
Middle East
Africa, Asia
South America
Rosemary
Mediterranean
River cane
Amaranth
Camilla
Horsetail
Echinacea
Calabash Gourd
Corn
Coconut
Oak
Origin
Uses
paper; textile-mats; ornamental aquatic
plant
malaria treatment; seltzer water
rubber products, furniture (wood)
Aspirin-pain reliever; furniture
textiles-cloth
culinary; textile-weaving; instruments
cosmetics; medicine-burns
culinary drink; medicine-stimulant,
diuretic
medicine-stimulant/energy
culinary; joint pain ointments
chocolate; cocoa butter
treatment of heart disease
textile-basketry, mats; weapon
dye; culinary; medicine
tea; ornamental flower
scouring, polishing
medicine-immune support
instruments; cooking utensil; art
culinary; biofuel
culinary; cosmetics; textile; medicine
wood; tanning leather; culinary (acorn);
instruments
culinary; mosquito-control; aromatherapy
bandages; ornamental
pigment; dye
culinary; medicine; manufactured
products (plastic, paint, dyes)
culinary; medicine; ornamental