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"Growing people for green environments"
For the Learners
 The
Garden-based schools programme offers a wide range of fun-filled Environmental
Education activities. These activities encourage learners to discover
their environment and in the process learn more about the biodiversity of South Africa. The practical, hands-on approach lends itself
to the development of skills associated with careful observation,
recording and analysis of data.
Our programmes are based on the National Curriculum Statement and integrate environment into all learning areas. Our approach
furthermore emphasises education for sustainability and encourages
learners to take responsibility for the environment.
Programme Details
Programmes are available in English and Afrikaans. The programmes
listed below are currently on offer at the Pretoria National Botanical
Garden. Bookings are essential.
Grade 1-3:
- Field Investigation: Identification, recording
and classification of living and non-living organisms in
a 1m² plot.
- Sensory Activities: Games and activities encouraging
the use of the senses. A variety of themes can be explored
e.g.autumn, seasons, colours, flowers, plants.
- Sticky Cards: A guided walk using sticky cards
to document aspects of the walk. They are also used to structure
an oral report-back session. A variety of themes can be
explored e.g.autumn, seasons, colours, flowers, plants,
textures.
- Trees I touched: Get to know trees using your senses!
Trees are the central theme on which a range of activities
are based.
- Water is Life: A look at life in a pond and other
water related activities.
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Grade 4-8
- Field Investigation: A study of a sample plot to
identify, record and classify the living and non-living
components within the plot.
- Vegetation Types: An elementary comparison of vegetation
in forest, desert, fynbos and grasslands areas.
- Life in the Leaves: A study of leaf litter and
the ecology of the organisms that live in it.
- Food Chains and Food Webs: A practical look at
food chains and food webs. Classification of herbivores,
carnivores and omnivores.
- Plant Adaptations: A practical look at plant adaptations
in the forest and semi-desert areas.
- Grassland Life: A closer look at the general ecology
of the organisms that live in the grassland.
- Trees I Touched: Trees are the central theme on
which a range of activities are based.
- Seeds: A game introduces seed germination and everyday
uses of seeds. Learners explore the importance of seeds
to people past and present through cultural activities.
- Traditional Plant Uses: Our medicinal garden provides
an ideal place to identify medicinal plants and their traditional
and cultural uses.
- Water is Life: A look at life in a pond and other
water related activities.
- Weird and Wonderful: Learners are taxonomists,
exploring and classifying a variety of plants with a focus
on algae, mosses, ferns and fungi.
- Combination activities:
The following activities can be combined with one of the
programmes above.
- Up Close: Vocabulary and creative writing. Write
a cinquain to describe a scene or object in the Garden.
- Window on your World: A discussion activity looking
at the natural as well as the urban environment.
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Grade 8-12:
- Plant Adaptations: A comparison of the adaptations
of plants in the Mountain Forest and semi-desert areas.
- Grassland Ecology: A sample plot and line transect
are used to identify, record and classify biotic and abiotic
components.
- Diversity of Plants: The garden becomes a walk
through time and space for learners to review the plant
kingdom and the way in which plants are classified.
- Ecotourism: Explore the Pretoria Garden as a destination
for tourists.
- Combination activities:
The following activities can be combined with some of the
programmes above.
- Plant tissues: Practical identification of plant
tissues, based on morphology. (Programme 1 & 2)
- Garden design: Use your knowledge of plant adaptations
to plan a garden. (Programme 1 & 2)
- Why sustainable?: Making decisions for sustainable
development. (Programme 1,2, 3, 5)
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