Collect four or more flowers or plants, identify them, and research how and why they acquired their names. Make a class presentation in which you show the plants, identifying them according to Linnaeus's method and discussing your findings.

Read Barrett's story “Rare Bird,” in Ship Fever and Other Stories, which centers on Linnaeus's theory that swallows hibernate under water. How does this story complement “The English Pupil”? What more does it tell the reader about Linnaeus, the scientific method, and the role of women in science? Make a class presentation in which you summarize the story and explain its relevance to “The English Pupil” and the history of science.

Research the current debate between the theories of evolution and creationism. What are the main arguments on each side? On which side of the debate do you think Linnaeus would stand? Should creation...