Oak trees are vital to European history. They provided wood for homes and fire. They provided leaves and bark for tanning hides. They gave Acorns for food.
They also are great for shade and squirrel nests...
The leaves and bark of Oak trees can be boiled to produce tannin (or tannic acid, like in ants), that cure hides from animals to make them last longer. The brown liquid naturally occurs in some rivers because of the Oak leaf loam that has built up over the centuries. If you want to color your hair darker, try boiling Oak leaves and bark, possibly with some black walnuts, and then spray it on your hair. It will also color anything else it touches, so watch out.
Oak trees, just like almost every other plant, have seeds. The Acorn can be harvested, dried or baked and then ground for a form of flour. If shelled and roasted briefly, they have a great flavor that can add nuttiness to soups and meats. I recomend cooking the acorns to dryness to break down the few toxins(cannot remember hen name right now) that they have in them before grinding the acorn meats for a flour.
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I mentioned Ants having Tannic acid. If you ever step into an ants nest, you will know first hand the acidic nature of the Ant as it bites you. Ant hills can be spotted almost anywhere. A patch of cleared, almost sandy ground or an actual hill can be indications of an ant colony. Try to stay away from such in desert climes, as they are most likely fire ants. Nasty buggers.
If you are hungry, and are willing to get bitten a little, try digging into an ant hill and look for the larvae. The white eggs that haven't broken open to reveal matured ants have a good amount of fat in them, without the tannic acid, and can be put into a survival stew with other things. You will need a sharp stick or shovel, and remember to put the dirt back after you gather the eggs. You will disturb the nest, get the attention of the soldier ants and most likely be bitten. If you have heavy clothing on, this shouldn't be a problem. Look for other protien sources, too.
One of the misunderstood plants in North America is the Burdock. In Asia, you can find Burdock made into pickles and in soups. The large leafy plant is considered a weed in most of North America. They do have annoying burrs for seed pods(hence the name...), but the root can be used as a starch or vegetable. I have not found a use for the leaves, yet.
This blurry picture is of a smaller thistle. I generally keep away from thistles, as they are sharp. You can gather the seed fluff, the down, for padding in things. It is true that artichokes are related to common thistles, but the methods I have heard of to use thistles for food are just downright stupid. If you are hungry enough to consider eating thistles, find a McDonalds. Get a job.