Curriculum
Guided tours are linked to the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. Many curriculum tours are also connected with STC units (Science & Technology for Children) from The Einstein Project. Related units are indicated with an "E" and the name of the unit. Pre- and post-visit materials are available for the guided curriculum tours.
Discovery in the Garden (grades preschool-1st)
Children discover why we need plants and how we use them. Hands-on fun includes an activity where children build a food web and learn the different plant parts they eat. Learning is especially fun when they become a tree and change with the different seasons. It all begins with a tiny seed and their appreciation for nature begins to grow.
E: None
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Butterflies and Beyond (grades kindergarten-2nd)
Experience a metamorphosis with your students in our outdoor classroom. Explore the lifecycles of flowers and butterflies and learn their basic needs. Students become aware of the changes that occur with the seasons, observe the weather and enjoy the sunshine.
E: Butterflies, Organisms, & Weather
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Dredging for Decomposers (grades 1st-3rd)
Dig deep to explore the mysteries that lie within the different soils at Green Bay Botanical Garden. Students search for decomposers, identify biodegradable materials and learn how worms are beneficial.
E: Soils & Organisms
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Seeds, Stems, and Students (grades 1st-3rd)
Learn the many adventures of a seed: AWEW! Students will “leaf” out loud at the process of photosynthesis. The tour germinates a creative way of learning about plant growth and plant parts.
E: Plant Growth & Development
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Wisconsin Weather and Water (grades 2nd-4th)
Trees sweat? Students will discover how water moves through a tree. The water hunt continues in our pond, with the search for invertebrate forms of life. An interactive investigation of a tree helps show its parts and functions. Learn how Wisconsin’s climate determines what we can grow in the Garden.
E: Land & Water, Organisms
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Exploring Ecosystems (grades 3rd-5th)
Visit Green Bay Botanical Garden’s three ecosystems: forest, aquatic and garden. Discover that each ecosystem has its own food chain that includes producers, consumers and decomposers. Learn how each ecosystem is different but has similar characteristics. Students also learn how different organisms live together to benefit each other.
E: Ecosystems
For pre- and post-visit materials, click here.
Branching Out (grades 6th-9th)
From the shape of a leaf to its arrangement, explore the mystery within deciduous plants. Learn the classification of annuals and perennials; including genus and species.
E: Organisms-From Macro to Micro
Biodiversity (grades 6th-10th)
Nature's diversity is brought together for this tour. Understand how plants are related by classification. Students participate in an activity on genetic diversity to understand the effect it has on populations.
E: N/A
Winter Ecology (Elementary) – Available January to March
We might not see an animal but we know it's there! You might think the plants are dead, but they are only sleeping! While exploring the Garden, students in grades Pre-K through 5 will learn how to identify tracks, scat and other signs of activity. We will learn how and why some animals and plants use special adaptations to survive winter’s harsh weather.
E: N/A
Winter Survival (Secondary) - Available January to March
Living in Wisconsin we must respect nature’s forces. Learn about what nature provides to help us survive. Any of us, at any time could find ourselves in a situation where we need to use some winter survival skills. What can we learn from the winter warriors throughout the Garden? Skills learned include maintaining their basic needs while setting priorities, problem solving and working together as a team.
E: N/A
