PREP to YEAR 6 - Melbourne
Introduction to the Gardens This program provides an introduction to the wondrous world of plants. Students will make pot pourri in the Herb Garden, plant a seedling while learning about plant structure, survival and the importance of plants in our lives. Teachers Kit (PDF format 1.8MB) Program Snapshot (PDF format 94.6KB) VELS Program Guide (PDF format 28.1KB)
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Minibeasts This program provides students with the chance to observe minibeasts in different habitats and explore their connection to the plant world. Investigate a worm farm, explore a water habitat and hunt with a magnifying glass in the leaf litter of the Gardens. Activities include taking a closer look at the role of minibeasts in soil and making a minibeast repellent pot pourri to take home. Special full day program, Minibeasts & Bugs 3D @ IMAX Program Snapshot (PDF format 91.8KB) VELS Program Guide (PDF format 27.7KB) return to top Food Forest This program makes hands-on and sensory connections between food and plants, giving students the opportunity to observe carnivores and herbivores, and understand nutrient cycles and food chains. Exploring the harvest of the Kitchen Garden students make connections between plants, healthy diets, organic and sustainable gardening. Activities include propagating a food plant to grow at school, using culinary herbs in the Herb Garden and finding out what worms eat. Program Snapshot (PDF format 94.3KB) VELS Program Guide (PDF format 28.7KB) return to top Sustainable Gardening The basic skills of good gardening practice are taught during this hands on program, exploring water conservation, organic gardening methods, composting and worm farming. Whilst exploring the Children’s Garden and the wider Botanic Gardens students will consider ideas for designing or developing their own garden. Activities include the propagation of a plant to take home. Program Snapshot (PDF format 44.8KB) VELS Program Guide (PDF format 38KB) return to top Plant Magic An arts-based program giving students opportunities to respond to inspiring environments and garden experiences, creatively, cooperatively, imaginatively. In Andy Goldsworthy style students create group collages from plant materials, explore cycles and spirals in nature and create leaf rubbings.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 33.4KB) return to top Christmas Program Experience the beauty of the Christmas season in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Discover the plants that are the symbols of Christmas. Students will make a Christmas pot pourri in the herb garden and a Christmas decoration using plant materials.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 32.7KB) return to top The Rainforest Experience a rainforest in the centre of Melbourne! Within the Gardens there is a huge diversity of rainforest plants from Australia and around the world. Students will explore rainforest structure and ecology and the importance of rainforest conservation. Students make forest animals from plant materials.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 33.5KB) return to top Plantworks Explore the structure and function of plants and investigate amazing adaptations from a variety of ecosystems. Students look at plants under microscopes, pot a seedling and visit the Tropical Hot House and the Herb Garden. return to top Plants and Animals The focus of this program is the fascinating plant and animal interrelationships that exist in garden environments. Students will look closely at soil, make their own creature from plant materials, and visit the Tropical Hot House to meet carnivorous plants. VELS Program Guide (PDF format 28.9KB)
return to top Island on the Yarra Who are the original inhabitants of the Yarra River? Explore an island on the original path of the Yarra by looking at indigenous vegetation and how the Kulin Nation used their plant resources. Students will examine the ecology of the site by using binoculars and microscopes to observe the animals that live there and their relationship to plants. Students propagate an indigenous plant to take back to school. return to top Literature Programs Water Conservation using Graeme Bases book ‘The Waterhole‘ Why is water so important? Children will make the vital connection between water and life on earth, looking closely at life in and around a billabong. Learn about and propagate a water conservation plant, examine pond life and look at plants from around the world that feature in Graeme Base's book. Students will collect plant material to create a collage at school.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 43.1KB) return to top
The Paradise Garden by Colin Thompson Why are plants so important in our lives? Through this beautiful book children will consider plants as homes, as food and explore their fun and fantasy elements. Children will explore plant and animal connections and the role of Botanic Gardens as habitat for wildlife in cities. Activities include propagation, art and building with bamboo.
Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker Share the story and rediscover it's secrets. Discover the amazing plants of the Australian rainforest and how the Aboriginal people used the rainforest. Find out how plants and animals interact, collect garden treasures to make a landscape collage return to top
LOTE and Cultural Programs Aboriginal Resource Trail The Aboriginal Resource Trail is designed to give students a greater understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture, particularly of the local Kulin Nation. Students will understand the significance of Waa (the raven) and Birrarung (Yarra River). Experiences include making and using ochre paint, string-making and a hands-on exploration of tools. The emphasis is on diversity and examining sustainable land practices used by Aboriginal people. Teachers Kit (PDF format 917KB) Program Snapshot (PDF format 46.1KB) VELS Program Guide (PDF format 38.9KB) return to top
Indonesian A visit to the Gardens provides a stimulating learning context that extends beyond the classroom and is designed to engage students' interest through active involvement. Activities include exploring the many qualities of bamboo, potting a herb to take home and tasting lemongrass or ginger tea. Teachers Kit (PDF format 2.1MB)
Chinese Explore the Southern Chinese Collection to see, touch, smell and taste Chinese plants and their products. Hear fascinating stories, try Chinese style brush painting, sip Chinese tea and pot a Chinese plant to take home.
French Explore the sensory delights of herbs and explore the role they play in French cooking and perfume, looking at potpourri, tisanes, and bouquet garni. Propagate the beginnings of your own French garden and see what's ready to be harvested in the potager! See what inspired the French Impressionists. Teachers Kit (PDF format 1.5MB)
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