Today’s homework. A bigger story.
Pick a topic, meet the people behind the ideas, and try something together.
20 pioneers with prepared, book-cited stories. Explore all 315 profiles
How would you organize a collection so someone else could find things?
Explore plants & observation with Ibn al-Baytar, then try the activity below.
The legacy behind the lesson
Ibn al-Baytar was a botanist from Malaga who lived in the thirteenth century.
His Dictionary of Simple Remedies and Food brought together extensive knowledge of plants and other materials.
The book arranged thousands of botanical samples alphabetically so readers could find them.
“How would you organize a collection so someone else could find things?”
Make a leaf field guide
Gather: Paper, pencils, and fallen leaves you can safely observe.
- 1
With a grown-up, choose two or three fallen leaves to observe.
- 2
Draw each leaf without tasting it or rubbing it on your skin.
- 3
Compare shapes and edges. Give each drawing a descriptive label.
- 4
Make an index that helps someone find each drawing.
Do not taste plants or make remedies. Ask a grown-up before handling unfamiliar plants.
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