Cyfnod Allweddol 2
‘Children thoroughly enjoyed and understood the content. Each activity was well paced with no overload of information. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this activity to other teachers and schools.’ Maes y Morfa, March 2009
Please have a look at our our Primary School newsletter for Winter – Spring 2012 - this will give deatils of what we’re doing for Fair Trade Fortnight and rainforests. If you want to know how our programmes link into the curriculum, have a look at our Programme curriculum links.
Now here are the regular programmes that we offer.
Fair Trade
What is it and why should we engage with it? Using the plant collections of the Garden, this challenging workshop links the producer with the consumer and deals with issues such as inequality, global markets and consumer power. This actively explores the concept of ‘Think Global, Act Local’.
Available all year round
Earth Walks
Getting children to use all their senses to explore the natural environment. Earth walks have been used throughout the UK, Europe and the US to help children understand the wonders of nature. Their experiences can be used to explore language and poetry back in school.
Available all year round
Life Cycle of Flowering Plants
What is a seed and how does it travel? How does it know when to germinate? What do all the different parts of a plant do and how are they pollinated? These and other questions are answered in this great, hands on workshop.
Available all year round
Waste and Recycling
Come and learn why we are being asked to recycle our waste and how it happens. Make a musical instrument out of junk to take back to school. (Designed specifically to tie in with ESDGC and EcoSchools).
Available all year round
Sowing and Growing
What do plants need to grow? Look at seeds and germination. Sow seeds to take back to school and learn about compost and how it’s made.
Available all year round
Life in Ponds
How do dragonfly nymphs breathe underwater? Why do caddis fly larvae make homes from old sticks and mud? Who is the top of the food chain in a freshwater pond?
Come pond dipping with us and we’ll help you explore the amazing world that exists under the water’s surface.
Available April – October
Green Technology Trail
Our trail explores how the Garden has made choices to ensure we minimise our environmental impact on planet Earth, and describes our role in the Global Plant Conservation Programme. We challenge pupils to consider what everyday choices they can make in school and at home to join us in trying to live more sustainably. This programme is a valuable support to schools following the Eco Schools Scheme.
Available all year round
What On Earth is Sustainability?
This workshop explores the diferent aspects of sustainability, the issues we need to engage with and how we can all make a difference to our sustainable future. It emphasises with pupils that their decisions count. This programme is a valuable support to schools following the Eco Schools Scheme.
Available all year round
Bee Aware
Many of the world’s top scientists have declared bees to be the most invaluable species on the planet. Yet, in the UK, the bee population dropped by around 30 per cent between 2007 and 2008. Visit our Bee Garden (Apiary) and learn about the vital role played by bees in plant lifecycles and food production, what threatens them and what we can do to help these amazing creatures!
Available April – October
Rocks and Soils
Is soil more valuable than gold? Come to the Garden to find out. Discover why and how we need to look after our soil and why soils from different places are different colours. What’s the secret recipe for soil, collect ingredients on a garden trail and use them to make your own soil. Group soils using the dirty hands test!
Available all year round
Plants in Medicine
Explore the history of the use of plants in medicine from the Physicians of Myddfai to the modern day. Discover key points in time for the development of medicines and the links between myths and modern science.
Available all year round
The World in a Welsh Cake
Take a look at traditional foods of Wales such as Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes, look at recipes and the ingredients in a shopping basket. Find out where the plants originally came from and how far your ingredients have travelled. Discover connections with plants from all around the world on a global journey through our glasshouses.
Available all year round
Grape Escape
Can you design and build a raft using only natural materials found at the Garden that will carry a grape down the 200 metre Rill and save it from being juiced.
Available all year round
Rainforests
Rainforests are the oldest and most complex ecosystem on Earth. Tropical rainforests are especially important to the Earth because they store over half the world’s rainwater. The immense amount of photosynthesising living plant material present in rainforests takes in vast amounts of carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen. That is why they have become known as the ’lungs of the planet’ and their destruction is linked to climate change. Visit our Tropical House to discover what it might be like in a Tropical Rainforest. Learn how plants they are adapted to live there, what products we all use that come from rainforests and about how important these ancient ecosystems are to us all. This programme is an ideal introduction to the topic and brings alive the subject for pupils and discusses how we might protect rainforests for the future.
Available all year round
Christmas Cake Food Miles
Take a look at a Christmas shopping basket and find out how far your Christmas food ingredients have travelled. Discover their origins and connections with plants from all over the world. Think about the environmental impact of food miles, the options for fair trading and take part in activities and games.
Available November – December
End of year Summer Trip
Celebrate summer with your year group or whole school. We can help you plan a fun day at the Garden including a trip on our famous recycled chip fat powered land train and enjoy the film “The Planet of Plants” in the 360º cinema at the Theatr Botanica.
Customised Programmes
We are able to provide programmes to meet your needs. For more information or to speak to a teacher ring the Education Office on 01558 667154 or e-mail jrichmond@gardenofwales.org.uk
