Guided Curriculum Tours
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
curriculum tours listed below.
Elementary Tours
Discovery in the
Garden
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 |
General
Tour Information
School Tour
Registration Form
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Butterflies and Beyond
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 |
Dredging for Decomposers
Dig deep to explore the mysteries that lie within the
different soils at the botanical garden. Students search for
decomposers, identify biodegradable materials, and learn how
worms are beneficial. E: Soils & Organisms |
Seeds, Stems, and Students
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 |
Wisconsin Weather and Water
Tree’s 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 |
Exploring Ecosystems
Visit GBBG’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
Middle and High School Tours
Branching Out
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
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 Tours
Available from January till March
Winter Ecology (Elementary)
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. |
Winter Survival (Secondary)
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.
Alternate Tours
General Guided Tour
Take students through a tour of the garden to explore plants
and nature. This tour offers a fun and educational
experience in the garden without following a set curriculum.
This tour is ideal for a multi-aged children’s group. |
Get Down To Earth
Come and enjoy a hands-on experience in the garden. See what
it takes to make our garden grow and learn about the upkeep
of the garden while helping us. This service learning
project is a wonderful way to teach students about science
and get them involved in the community. This program
includes forty-five minutes of learning and forty-five
minutes of work and the admission is free. |
Self Guided Tour
A written guide is provided for teachers or adults to
develop their own lesson at the Garden. Self guided tours
generally work best when each group is divided into fifteen
or fewer students. |
