Rooting students in their botanical history: A method to engage students in botany and herbaria

Societal Impact Statement Plants are essential for all life on earth, supporting ecosystems and providing vital resources such as food, medicine, and materials. However, botanical education has been neglected in K‐12 curricula, leading to limited plant awareness. Our project introduced 10 educational modules that connected high school students to their botanical heritage through herbarium curation. Students were engaged because of the emphasis on a personal connection to plants, fostering a deeper interest in botany and citizen science. This approach suggests that curricula emphasizing personal connections can enhance student engagement and should be prioritized to strengthen environmental and botanical education. Summary A lack of plant awareness in human society has led to a view of plants as less important than animals. Since plants make up the bulk of biomass on earth and provide food, medicine, and shelter, increasing plant awareness is essential to our society's survival. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of 10 educational modules designed for use with high school students to engage them in botany and the importance of herbaria. Students explore botanical concepts by starting with their own family history. What plants were important to their ancestors? They choose a plant species and go through the process of identifying, collecting, pressing, mounting, and digitizing their herbarium specimen. The study comprised pre‐ and post‐assessments, student descriptions regarding plant significance, and teacher interviews with module reflections. Significant improvements were noted in students' ability to perceive plants and identify plant groups post‐intervention. Students exhibited nuanced shifts in attitudes toward science topics, with varying degrees of change observed. Common themes emerged in student descriptions, reflecting diverse perceptions of plants within familial contexts. Teacher interviews highlighted interest in plants, curriculum gaps, and increased student engagement through module activities. Overall, the collaborative approach presented a promising way to increase plant awareness, emphasizing the importance of integrating botanical education into standardized curricula to inspire future generations of plant scientists and promote the value of herbaria in addressing global challenges. Continued efforts in this direction are crucial for fostering plant appreciation and preparing students for environmental stewardship.