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Guided School Programme
 Approximately 14 000 learners per year attend guided lessons in the garden, led by our experienced team of environmental education officers
The school programme caters for learners from Grades R to 12 and offers curriculum-linked lessons on a wide range of environmental topics. Learners get to grips with environmental issues facing communities, including Biodiversity and Education for Sustainability. They are encouraged to discover their environment through careful observation, recording and interpretation of data.  Lessons are action-packed and hands-on and offer learners an opportunity to interact with nature in a very personal way. We aim to raise awareness of the environmental issues facing our communities and develop skills which will enable learners to take responsibility for their own environment.
School teachers, accompanying their groups into the garden, are exposed to practical activities which can be used in their own school gardens or neighbouring natural areas.
Lessons are offered in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
The sponsored Kirstenbosch bus enables school groups, which experience financial difficulties, to travel to and from the garden free of charge.
Days on which the guided programme is offered:
Tuesday - Friday, throughout the school year
Time:
09h30 - 11h30 - Grade R-3
09h30 - 12h30 - Grade 4 - 12
Cost: R10.00 per learner for all guided groups
Learning Programmes offered for 2007
| Themes |
Learning Programmes and Grades
|
| Introduction
to Kirstenbosch |
| R. A sensory exploration of Kirstenbosch, with a focus on pond life. |
R |
| A. Sensory exploration of Kirstenbosch. |
1,2,3 |
| B. Discovery of fynbos and forest through map
orientation. |
4,5,6, |
| C. Discovery of diversity of plants & historical overview of Kirstenbosch. |
7,8,9 |
D. A study of a wetland ecosystem and introduction to Kirstenbosch garden.
|
8,9 |
|
| Ecology |
| A. Finding out about a forest eco-system. |
5-6 |
| B. Investigating inter-relationships in the forest ecosystem. |
7 |
| C. Investigating a forest ecosystem, with a focus on energy transfers in nature. |
10 |
|
| Plant
adaptation |
| A. Investigating plant adaptations with respect
to climate and defence mechanisms. |
7 |
| B. Investigate how the external structure of
leaves is adapted to limit transpiration. |
12 |
|
| Plants and People |
| A. Finding out about indigenous plants that
we can use. |
3 |
| B. Exploring everyday uses of indigenous plants. |
4 |
| C. Investigating the uses of different parts
of indigenous plants. |
5 |
| D. Investigate sustainable methods of utilising
plant resources. |
7,8,9 |
| F. Understanding sustainable use of plant reources. |
10,11 |
| G. Investigating the sustainable use of plants, followed by an introduction to Kirstenbosch. |
10,11 |
|
| Biomes |
| A. Comparison of Forest,Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes in Kirstenbosch. |
5 |
| B. Comparison of Forest,Fynbos and Succulent
Karoo Biomes in Kirstenbosch, including the use of climate and biome maps. |
10 |
|
| Water |
| Understanding ecological processes associated with fresh water and the conservation and responsible use thereof. (Only available seasonally) |
4,5 |
|
| Plant reproduction |
| Reproduction in mosses, ferns and gymnosperms |
11 |
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| Travel and Tourism |
Kirstenbosch as a tourist destination |
10,11 |
|
| Biodiversity |
| A. An in-depth investigation of the biodiversity found in the Western Cape |
5,6 |
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