This set of activities directly addresses plant awareness disparity, sometimes called “plant blindness,” by helping students recognize the importance of plants in both global and personal contexts.

Outcomes & Impacts

The project successfully reached a diverse range of student backgrounds, learning styles, and academic levels.

Significant increases in plant awareness were documented across all participating classrooms.

Students demonstrated improved recognition of plant diversity, major plant groups, and herbarium functions.

Many students identified strong personal and cultural connections to plants used in their family traditions.

Teacher interviews emphasized that students experienced authentic scientific work, gained confidence in handling botanical material, and developed a sense of ownership in scientific inquiry.

Assessment Highlights

• Students’ ability to describe and recognize plants improved by over 300% after completing the modules.
• 76% of students demonstrated a high or intermediate personal connection to their selected plant species.
• Post-module surveys showed significant increases in students’ confidence, enjoyment, and self-identification as scientists.

Broader Significance

This work demonstrates how herbaria can serve as powerful tools for public engagement, education, and outreach—especially for underrepresented age groups like high school students. By empowering students to explore plant science through personal and cultural narratives, the project deeper appreciation for plant diversity, conservation, and environmental stewardship.