CU 4.05Botany Cabinet: Leaf Shapes
The child traces the inset leaf shapes of the botany cabinet, names them, and matches them to cards and real leaves.
Age 4½–6Work 5 of 7 in Botany
Presentation
- 1
Bring one drawer with three contrasting shapes (for example orbicular, lanceolate, cordate).
- 2
Lift one inset by its knob. Trace the frame edge with two fingers, then the inset edge.
- 3
Name it: 'This leaf shape is orbicular. It is round.'
- 4
Repeat with the other two shapes and give a three-period lesson.
- 5
Match the insets to the filled cards, then to the thick outline cards, then to the thin outline cards.
- 6
Take a real leaf and find the inset that matches its shape.
- 7
Return the insets to the drawer.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Match all shapes in a drawer to the three sets of cards
- Trace the inset with colored pencil and fill in with lines
- Go on a leaf hunt and sort real leaves by shape
- Match leaf-edge (margin) cards: smooth, toothed, lobed
Control of error
Each inset fits only in its own frame; the filled card is the exact size and shape of the inset.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Names at least six leaf shapes
- Matches insets to all three card sets
- Finds the matching shape for a real leaf