Nature Collection

Biology
Mrs. Wood

This collection is a way for you to learn about West Virginias ecology
and learn about scientific naming and identification.

You and a partner will be completing the collection and identification
of 20 specimens. If you are working in a group of three you will need
25 specimens.

The collection must be worked on outside of school in addition to class
time in order to complete the project in a timely manner. The
collection will be due September 18
th
2013 and will be taken no later
than September 20
th
2013.

You may complete the project in a variety of ways:

o Photo album with specimens
o PowerPoint Slideshow
o Movie (Moviemaker, Animoto, etc.)

If you choose to complete your project in a digital form you must
include an index card with your name, date and location in the picture
so I know that the picture is actually something you found and not a
picture from the Internet. Also, digital projects will be submitted on
Edmodo.

Specimens must include the following identification:
o Common name
o Scientific name (Genus is capitalized, species is lower case,
whole name is italicized if typed or underlined if handwritten)
o Student name
o Date collected
o Location found (Ex. Crab Orchard, WV)






Specimens to be collected:
o 15 Leaves of Trees (Includes evergreen needles as well as
deciduous leaves)
o 5 specimens of your choice from the following categories:
! Fungi (best in photo form due to rapid decomposition)
! Insects (in lidded jars with rubbing alcohol)
! Mammals in wilderness (only in picture format)
! Flowering Plants (make sure to press if you are
presenting in a photo album format)

Helpful websites for identification of leaves:
o http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/tree-key/tree-
key.htm
o http://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/WhatTree.cfm?Item
ID=E6A
o http://forestry.about.com/od/treeidentification/tp/tree_key_
id_start.htm

Helpful websites for identification of fungi:
o www.rogersmushrooms.com
o www.first-nature.com/fungi/~id-guide.php
o www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs79.pdf

Helpful websites for identification of insects:
o www.insectidentification.org/insect-identification.asp
o ento.psu.edu/public/insect-images
o eol.org/collections/108

Helpful websites for identification of flowering plants:
o www.herbaleducation.net/eastern-gallery/
o www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DICA
o http://identifythatplant.com/plant-id-resources/plant-id-
websites/


Rubric for Nature Collection

Behavior Grade during class outings 80 points (4 X 20)
Specimens 200 points (10 X 20)
Specimen Naming 100 points (5 X 20)
o Student Names
o Common Name
o Scientific Name
o Date collected
o Location
Organization of Collection 20 points
o Title Page or Slide
! Student Names
! Nature Collection
! Biology
! Mrs. Wood

Total Project Points
400 points
This is a lab grade and is 35 % of your overall grade.
Please remember that this project will only be taken up to two days late due
to the extent of time it will take to grade these projects