Foraging
Supplies, instructions, resources, and worksheets are below!
Foraging – Native Edible Plants
Project Description
If you were lost in the wilderness, and needed to survive, what would you eat? Before the development of farming and agriculture, humans were hunter-gatherers of wild plants or pursuing animals for food. Not all plants are edible, and you should NEVER eat a wild plant, if you don’t know what it is. In this activity, you’ll learn about native, plants in your local environment and identify which ones are edible or which ones are not.
Activity Time
1-2 Day
Supplies Recommended
Edible Plants Worksheet
Native Plant Database
Edible Plant Database
scissors
glue
pencil
Learning Objectives
Understand that some plants are edible while others are poisonous
Understand characteristics of poisonous plants
Understand that plants have purposes
Improve research skills
Vocabulary Terms to Understand
Look up each word and write the definition on the back of the Lined Paper.
foraging
edible
poisonous
bitter
leaves
roots
stem
flower
fruit
nuts
seeds
Educational Videos
Instructions
1. Watch the instructional videos above to learn about wild edible plants.
2. Read through the resources below to learn more.
3. Print the Edible Plant Worksheet.
4. Look up and write each of the vocabulary words above on Lined Paper.
5. Use the Native Plant Database to find wild plants native to your area.
6. Use the Edible Plant Database to identify which ones are safe to eat.
7. For the native plants you find that are edible, list them on the Edible Plants Worksheet. Write the scientific name, the common name, a description, and paste a photo of each edible plant.
Questions
What are three wild plants in your local area that are safe to eat?
What are the characteristics of poisonous plants?
What is the most important thing when eating wild plants?
Resources
20 Wild Edible Plants
Foraging
What is Foraging: Foods You Can Forage For
Ethical Foraging 101 – What You Need to Know
Local Foraging
7 Rules for Foraging for Wild Foods
Foraging for Food in the Wild
