Secondary school programs
The following programs are designed to incorporate the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS). They provide an effective and integrated approach for teaching across the Domains.
Each program is led by a Royal Botanic Gardens Secondary teacher and can be adapted to suit individual group needs.Teacher professional development workshops are also available on request.
Melbourne programs
- The Rainforest
- Biodiversity on the Yarra
- Water Management - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano
- Science of Soil - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano
- Plant Power - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano
- Climate Change
- Aboriginal Resources Trail
- Water 4 Life
- Plant Toxicology
- Sustainable Gardening
- Plantworks
- Changing Landscapes
- Rare and Threatened Species
- Darwin's Garden
- LOTE: Indonesian and French
VCE Programs:
- Plant Adaptations Biology ~ Unit 2
- Plant Evolution and Diversity Biology ~ Unit 1
- Behind the Scenes Biology ~ Unit 1
- Changing Landscapes Humanities, Outdoor and Enviro. ~ Unit 3
The Rainforest ~ Year 7 - 9
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.
Biodiversity of the Yarra ~ Year 7 - 9
Where in Melbourne would you go to see spoonbills and night herons feeding at the billabong, eels and long necked tortoises swimming in a wetland or even powerful owls and a reed warbler. As you walk through this revegetation area you will be able to observe some of the interrelationships between the indigenous flora and fauna using binoculars to explore life cycles and food chains. Students will examine aquatic invertebrates through microscopes and pond sampling.
Water Management - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano - NEW
Water Management aims to give students a full understanding of the history of water use in the Gardens and ways that water-saving techniques can be used in the wider community. This program engages and challenges students through a range of hands-on activities, including: making a dripper watering system, creating contour lines on a landscape and seeing water-saving principles in operation.
Science of Soil - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano - NEW
This program looks at various aspects of soil and aims to develop an understanding of the important role of soil in life on Earth. Students will participate in hands-on activities which will involve handling different types of soil, discovering wetting patterns of different soil types, testing pH of various soils and measuring soil temperature in a range of locations.
Plant Power - Explore Guilfoyle’s Volcano - NEW
Plants are a vital part of everyday life, this program looks at many aspects of plant growth. Students will participate in hands-on activities which will involve measuring tree height, using compasses to make a tree canopy map, photographing various types of leaves, counting tree rings to check growth and planting a cutting.
Climate Change
Climate change is now accepted as a reality that we have to address globally. Find out what it means for us and what we can do about it individually, in a very positive sense. Take home a drought tolerant, carbon fixing plant, find out how to creatively manage and store water while reflecting on the bigger picture solutions.
Aboriginal Resources Trail ~ Year 7 - VCE
The Aboriginal Resource Trail is designed to give students a greater understanding and respect for the local Kulin culture. Students visit Long Island, where indigenous plant habitat has been returned and understand the significance of Waa (the raven) and Birrarung (Yarra River). Experiences include making and using ochre paint and string-making. The emphasis is on diversity and examining sustainable land practices used by Aboriginal people.
- Aboriginal Resource Trail VELS (MS Word - 72 kb)
- Teachers Kit (Ms Word - 5.37 mb)
- Program Snapshot (Ms Word - 107 kb)
Water 4 Life ~ Year 7 -10
Understanding water is vital in the face of a drying continent. This water conservation program explores the role of water in the ecology of natural environments such as billabongs and wetlands. Student activities include water testing/sampling and exploring sustainable gardening practices by propagating a plant and by understanding how the Gardens is conserving water. Students examine plant adaptations for arid and low rainfall environments.
Plant Toxicology ~ Year 9 - 10
Come on a journey to discover the hidden power of plants and how they fight for survival in the face of constant attack from animals. Learn about the poisons that plants make in order to defend themselves and the effects these have on humans and other animals. Learn the shocking truth that many common garden plants and parts of common food plants are poisonous. Recognise the features of poisonous plants, learn about medicinal plants and plants which were thought to have "magical powers".
Sustainable Gardening ~ Year 7 - 10
The basic skills of sustainable gardening practice are taught during this hands-on program, exploring water conservation, organic gardening methods, composting and worm farming. Students will consider ideas for designing or developing their own gardens by exploring the landscapes of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Plantworks ~ Year 7 - 10
Explore the structure and function of plants and investigate amazing adaptations from a variety of ecosystems. Students participate in observational activities in the Gardens using stereo microscopes, pot up a native plant seedling and investigate the plant collections in the Tropical Hot House and the Herb Garden.
Changing Landscapes ~ Year 7 - 10
This program examines the changing landscape of Melbourne including change in attitudes and impact of land use. Special focus is on the importance of the Yarra River and the role of vegetation within the landscape, as well as its significance to the Kulin Nation. Students will compare historic images of the site and propagate an indigenous plant to take home.
Rare and Threatened Species
A Rare and Threatened Species education program partnership was developed with five secondary schools in 2009, to highlight a new series of plant display beds showcasing our collection of rare and threatened Australian native plant species. The Rare and Threatened Species Collection includes plants from five significant ecosystems in Victoria; Grampians, Mallee, Alpine, Grasslands, and Gippsland Forest regions.
A modified, one-visit version of the Rare and Threatened education program is now available to interested secondary schools on request.
Darwin's Garden
Celebrate the legacy and thinking of Charles Darwin, an extraordinary man. Find out more about the big ideas that changed the world like, 'natural selection'. Darwin was a passionate observer fascinated by plants and the world around him. Explore amazing plant behaviour through observation, critical thinking and scientific inquiry. Techniques explored mirror Darwin's own work such as: creating a nature journal, making plant specimens, using microscopes and observing plants in action. Discover the scientist in us all.
LOTE: Indonesian and French ~ Year 7 - VCE
These programs help teachers immerse their students in the Gardens as an inspiring resource for language studies. Activities highlight plant use in these cultures and provide opportunity for language enrichment.
VCE Programs
Plant Adaptations VCE Biology Unit 2 – Organisms and Their Environment
Explore the diverse plant collections of the Gardens to discover many of the remarkable adaptations that plants have which allow them to survive in a range of different environments. Students explore the plant collections of the Australian Rainforest Border, the Tropical Glasshouse and the Arid Garden. Students participate in observational activities in the Gardens using stereo microscopes.
Plant Evolution and Diversity VCE Biology Unit 1- Unity and Diversity, Unit 4 - Continuity and Change
Take an evolutionary journey of plant diversity from liverworts to lilies. See representatives of many of the plant phyla and their families and discover what kind of evolutionary advantages they have developed. Students participate in observational activities in the Gardens using stereo microscopes.
Behind the Scenes VCE Biology Unit 1 – Unity and Diversity
Visit the National Herbarium of Victoria and the Gardens' Nursery Collections and discover some fascinating botanical specimens. Learn about the work that goes on in the Herbarium such as plant identification and its significance over the last 150 years. See how specimens are collected, prepared, documented and mounted.
Unfortunately, no photographs can be taken in the Herbarium or Nursery area without prior arrangement, due to privacy and copyright issues.
Changing Landscapes VCE Suitable for Humanities, Outdoor & Enviro. Studies ~ Unit 3
This program examines the changing landscape of Melbourne including change in attitudes and impact of land use. Special focus is on the importance of the Yarra River and the role of vegetation within the landscape, as well as its significance to the Kulin Nation. Students will compare historic images of the site and propagate an indigenous plant to take home.
Cranbourne programs
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change
- Conservation Matters
- Sustainable Gardening
- Water in a Dry Country
- Australian Environments
- Fire and the Australian Environment
- Wetlands and Water Quality
- A Shared Country
- Wilams not Wigwams
- Bushfoods
- Investigating Ecosystems Biology ~ Unit 2
- Fresh Water Ecosystems Biology ~ Unit 2
- Outdoor and Environmental Studies ~ Unit 3 and 4
- Future Use of a Resource Geography ~ Unit 3
- Eco-spirituality
Biodiversity
Investigate just how many plants and animals make up a healthy garden community and find out what you can do to add to the mix. Conduct your own biodiversity survey, capture and name your discoveries. Pot up a plant to diversify your garden and find out some secret ways to house new neighbours on a discovery walk.
Climate Change
Climate change is now accepted as a reality that we have to address globally. Find out what it means for us and what we can do about it individually, in a very positive sense. Take home a drought tolerant, carbon fixing plant, find out how to creatively manage and store water while reflecting on the bigger picture solutions.
Conservation Matters
How can we become active conservationists at a local level and be a part of positive global change? This program provides an authentic hands-on learning experience focusing on Victorian environment issues and providing strategies for action at home. Experiences include discovery walk, potting up native plant, worm farming and a habitat game.
Sustainable Gardening
Gardening is a productive and creative form of expression. Learn how to be creative while you help conserve our precious resources such as water and support lots of wildlife in your garden. Experiences include landscape designing with mulch, potting up a plant and worm farming.
Water in a Dry Country
Where has all our water gone and how can we make better use of the water we still have? We look at these problems in a positive and creative way by designing our own mini landscapes with colourful and surprising mulches. This is a great earthy, textural team activity. We also look at how some plants themselves can survive in really tough dry environments.
Australian Environments
“Travel around Australia” discovering the physical conditions in various environments and how plants and animals adapt. Explore the natural communities in the bushland and contrast these with the human made landscapes in the Australian Garden. Experiences include a discovery walk, observations of tracks and scats and a sensory exploration of plants.
Fire and the Australian Environment
Observe first hand, how fire stimulates Australian plants to set seed and grow. The RBG Cranbourne uses fire as a management tool to encourage biodiversity and provide habitat for native mammals. Measure the total fire fuel load, observe the weather conditions and learn about plant adaptations to fire. Experiences include discovery-walk, exploration of plant adaptations, succession after fire and calculating the overall fuel hazard for a set site.
Wetlands and Water Quality
How does land use affect water quality? Conduct a habitat survey, measure physical and chemical parameters using a water quality testing kit and identify the aquatic animals living in the fresh water. Experiences include a discovery-walk, a habitat survey, measuring turbidity, dissolved oxygen, phosphorous, pH, temperature, conductivity, nitrogen levels and identifying aquatic animals.
A Shared Country
Explore the country of the Kulin people. Discover who the Kulin are and how they traditionally used plants for food, fibre, shelter, tools and medicine. Experiences include discovery-walk, observations, and sensory exploration of plants and landscape, handling Kulin artefacts and using plant fibre to make string.
Wilams not Wigwams
Work in teams to construct indigenous bush shelters from stringybark slabs and poles. Discover the nature of traditional shelters and find out the traditional layout of a Kulin settlement and community. Experiences include construction, teamwork and decision making and handling Kulin artefacts.
Bushfoods
Discover some of the indigenous food plants of this region of Victoria, and others from across this vast continent. Find them growing in the bush and learn how they were prepared. Experiences include discovery-walk, observations, sensory exploration of plants and landscape, handling Kulin artefacts, teamwork, decision making and trying bushfood.
Investigating Ecosystems Biology ~ Unit 2
Identify plant communities and conduct a transect survey. Use a dichotomous key to classify plants in the wetland or heathland ecosystems. Observe plant adaptations, special relationships between organisms, population dynamics, identify human influences and changes over time eg fire.
Fresh Water Ecosystems Biology ~ Unit 2
Investigate a wetland environment and identify the aquatic animals using a dichotomous key and microscopes. Species collected can be used to indicate pollution. Perform a habitat survey and test the water for physical and chemical parameters.
Outdoor and Environmental Studies ~ Unit 3 and 4
In our remnant bushland setting, discover the perceptions and uses of the environment made by traditional indigenous Australians, early settlers and contemporary society.
Future Use of a Resource Geography ~ Unit 3
Investigate how the RBG Cranbourne is managed as a recreational and scientific resource for future generations. Analyze data to propose a policy regarding the current and future use of the site, including the impact of the new Australian Garden.
Eco-spirituality
This program encourages students to make a deep connection with nature by exploring Indigenous spirituality, our reliance on the environment for survival, the interconnectedness of all living things and the beauty and diversity in nature which will lead to stewardship of the environment.
Session times
All programs 1 hour and 45 minutes in duration.
10.15am – 12.00 noon
12.30pm – 2.15pm
Program prices (domestic)
$10.50 per student (includ. GST)
$189.00 per class, for small groups (Minimum Charge)
Teachers / Adults free
Bookings and information
Melbourne: (03) 9252 2358
Cranbourne: (03) 5990 2245
Email: education services
Secondary Education Programs flyer
Last updated 23 Feb 2012
