Success Stories in Plant Based Classroom Curriculum Development Colon
Success stories in plant based classroom curriculum development Colon Success Stories in Plant Based Classroom Curriculum Development Christina Paulette Colon The New York Botanical Garden,USA The New York Botanical Garden is a leader in plant science education, with over 100 years of experience in plant science education. This past year, nearly 80,000 elementary school students and their teachers visited the Botanical Garden. Groups participated in both informal and structured learning experiences, all of which are inquiry-based, where students investigate, question, explore, and observe, much like actual scientists. Programs also promote constructivist learning, building on prior knowledge, framed in a familiar context. This case study describes how we have met the challenge of serving an expanded audience through innovative curricula that bring even richer learning opportunities into local classrooms, and beyond. Background The Botanical Garden has three facilities designed for children. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is the centrepiece, opened in 1998. This 12 acre indoor/outdoor garden consists of six galleries and approximately 50 hands-on exhibits that teach about plant parts and their functions, the plant life cycle, and ecosystems. Children are encouraged to use all their senses as they explore this rich learning environment. Then there is the Howell Family Garden, an outdoor gardening facility where, under the supervision of education staff, children plant and tend their own garden plots. They learn about horticulture and gardening while they tend and water plants, harvest and taste fresh produce, dig for earthworms, and make botanical crafts. GreenSchool is a structured learning environment in the Enid A.
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