Head outside to a park, backyard, nature trail, or neighborhood with trees. Bring a bag or basket, a notebook, and a pencil. Your goal: collect 10-15 different types of leaves. Look for variety in shape (round, pointy, lobed), size (tiny to huge), edge (smooth, toothed, wavy), and color (green, red, yellow, variegated). Take only one or two leaves from each tree or plant—don't strip branches. Choose leaves that are fresh and intact, not too dried out or bug-eaten (a little damage is okay for character). As you collect, make quick notes: where you found each leaf, what the tree or plant looked like, any flowers or fruit nearby. Take photos of the whole plant for identification later. If you're in an urban area, you'll still find surprising diversity—street trees, garden plants, and weeds all have interesting leaves.

When you get home, you need to press the leaves flat and dry them to preserve them. Traditional method: place each leaf between two sheets of plain white paper (newspaper or printer paper works), then stack heavy books on top (phone books, textbooks, encyclopedias). The weight flattens the leaves and the paper absorbs moisture. Arrange leaves so they don't overlap. Stack multiple leaves separated by paper in one big book pile. Leave them pressed for 7-14 days—check after a week to see if they're dry and flat. Faster method: use an iron on low heat (no steam) to press leaves between two sheets of paper. The heat dries them in minutes, but you risk browning delicate leaves. Arrange pressed leaves carefully—the way you position them now is how they'll look forever.

While leaves are drying, become a plant detective. Use the photos you took, the location notes, and the leaf characteristics to identify each species. Start with a tree identification guide (library book, website, or app like iNaturalist, Seek, or PlantSnap). Key identification features: leaf shape (simple or compound, lobed or unlobed), leaf edge (smooth, toothed, wavy), vein pattern (parallel, branching), arrangement on the branch (alternate, opposite, whorled), and any distinctive traits (fuzzy texture, strong smell). Match your leaf to pictures and descriptions in the guide. Write down the common name (sugar maple, white oak) and scientific name (Acer saccharum, Quercus alba) for each species. Note fun facts: is it native or invasive? Do animals eat it? What's it used for? This turns your collection from random leaves into a scientific study.

Once leaves are fully dried (1-2 weeks in books), it's time to create your official specimen collection. You'll need white cardstock or heavy paper (one sheet per leaf), clear tape or glue dots, a fine-tip pen or printed labels, and optional plastic sheet protectors. Carefully remove each leaf from the pressing papers—they're fragile now. Position the leaf on the cardstock in a way that shows its shape clearly (stem pointing down, lobes spread out). Secure it with tiny dots of glue or small pieces of clear tape at the stem and a few other spots—don't cover the whole leaf. In one corner, write or attach a label with: common name, scientific name, location and date collected, collector's name, and any notes (tree height, bark texture, habitat). Slide each mounted specimen into a sheet protector if you want extra durability. Stack them in a binder or folder to create your specimen collection.

Your leaf collection is complete—now share it! Show family, friends, or neighbors and explain what you learned about each species. Take it to school for show-and-tell or a science project if appropriate. Display a few favorite specimens in frames on the wall. Discuss expanding the collection: collect leaves in different seasons to see how fall colors or spring growth changes species, gather leaves from different locations (urban vs forest vs wetland), or focus on one plant family (all oaks, all maples) to study variation. Keep the collection organized and stored flat in a cool, dry place so it lasts for years. Revisit it periodically to see how much you remember. Celebrate that you've created a scientific record of the plants in your area—real botanists and naturalists do exactly this kind of work.