Moore Farms Botanical Garden has resumed in-person field trips this year. Field trip offerings are listed below.
Please contact Education and Outreach Coordinator, Katie Ford at kford@moorefarmsbg.org if you have any questions or would like more information.
BASIC INFORMATION:
Field trips at Moore Farms Botanical Garden are FREE of charge.
Programs last 1-1.5 hours not including drop-off/pick-up.
You may bring a bag lunch to eat on site.
Let our Education Coordinator know if you need financial assistance for travel and they will provide you with a “Bus Scholarship” application.
Please choose a program from the list below for your field trip.
If you would like a program that is designated for a separate age group, we can make accommodations.
GRADE LEVEL 1-2
CRITTER CRAWL
During this journey students will learn the roles between organisms in a garden and how they interact. They will learn about helpful insects, discuss the food web, and learn the importance of pollinators. Students will also get to experience a worm bin and how composting is beneficial to both humans and other organisms.
Topics: Life Science, Food Web, Environmental Science
GRADE LEVEL 1-2
ROOTS TO SEED
It’s all about plants! Explore the parts of a plant using the garden as a classroom. Students will discover the structure and function of each plant part by engaging in hands-on activities throughout the garden, from completing leaf rubbings to harvesting right out of our vegetable garden. Activities will vary slightly depending on the season.
Topics: Plant Parts
GRADE LEVEL 1-2
HABITATS ARE HOMES
Students will learn about different habitats and the living things within them by surveying garden areas, including a native pine forest and pond. Games and activities focus on the habitats and organisms found right here in our region to familiarize students with the biological diversity in their own backyards.
Topics: Life Science, Adaptations
GRADE LEVEL 3-4
SOIL SCIENCE
This program is an exploration of the characteristics of soil, including rock types, living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, nutrient content, erosion, and organic matter. Students will use tools and models along with a scientific mindset to discover the intricacies of soil and to stop treating it like dirt.
Topics: Geology, Soil
GRADE LEVEL 3-4
WHY YOU BUGGIN’?
Come explore the ins and outs of insects and their important garden jobs: predation, pollination, and decomposition. During this program students will hunt for insects found in the garden, learn how to identify their body parts, and understand how these creatures fit into our garden ecosystem.
Topics: Adaptations, Environmental Science
GRADE LEVEL 3-4
METEOROLOGY
Students will discover the factors that create weather patterns and compare regional climates. A water cycle activity will demonstrate how water travels around the world in different states of matter. They will learn how these conditions influence gardening practices. They will use and record readings from weather instruments to complete a weather report.
Topics: Weather and Climate, Water Cycle, Plant Care
GRADE LEVEL 3-4
ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
In this program students will learn how and why animals adapt to their environment or habitat. Students will be able to compare skulls of various animals to discuss structural adaptations and observe animals for behavioral adaptations. They will play a game and work together to learn the different types of adaptation and how to identify them. The students will be able to learn about the impact the environment has and how actions we take today can lead to changes in the future.
Topics: Adaptations
GRADE LEVEL 3-5
TREE BY TREE
Explore the structure of our tall, majestic friends: trees! Learn trees essential functions, how they grow and what good they can do for us! Using games and activities, students will learn to identify trees around the garden, what creatures rely on trees, and how they fit into our ecosystems.
Topics: Tree Structure, Food Web
GRADE LEVEL 4-6
WORLD OF WATER
Water is our most important natural resource. Join us as we explore all the ways that water impacts us and our environment. We will learn about the water cycle and discuss how water is distributed on the Earth. We will also view various aquatic landscapes and learn about the plants and other organisms that call this garden their home.
Topics: Water Cycle, Natural Resources, Aquatic Organisms
GRADE LEVEL 5-6
THE ECOLOGY OF A GARDEN
This program teaches students about the interconnectedness of the abiotic and biotic parts that make our garden possible. Students will be introduced to the garden as an ecosystem and will investigate the ways in which plants adapt to their environment and interact with the creatures they live alongside. It’s all connected!
Topics: Plant Adaptations, Ecosystem Studies
GRADE LEVEL 5-12
GARDENING 101
This program will dive into the mechanics of plant care, specifically vegetable gardening. Students will learn methods of gardening and practice techniques for growing a thriving vegetable garden. Each student will plant a seed to take home and watch grow. This is a particularly good program for groups who have or are starting a garden or plant project at their school.
Topics: Plant Life Cycle, Plant Care
GRADE LEVEL 7-12
BOTANY BASICS
Let’s take the study of plants outside. Students will explore some of the major concepts of botany, including plant classification, identification, and physiology. Hands-on activities include flower dissection and tree specimen identification.
Topics: Plant Adaptations, Ecosystem Studies
GRADE LEVEL 7-12
WATER AND SOIL QUALITY
How healthy is our pond and vegetable garden? Students will collect water and soil samples to test parameters that indicate water and soil health. Together we will analyze and discuss the presence and amount of various nutrients and compare our results to those of professional instruments and testing. By request, this program can also include activities around macroinvertebrates.
Topics: Life Science, Ecology, Sustainability, Scientific Method
GRADE LEVEL 7-12
GREENER FUTURE
Using the MFBG green roof, students will utilize observation skills and learn to use systematic sampling methods to collect data. Through graphing and analyzing data, students will determine the effectiveness of green roofs versus regular structures. Students will explore the various ways that plants can help our planet and combat climate change.
Topics: Sustainability, Scientific Method, Life Science
GRADE LEVEL 7-12
ETHNOBOTANY: PLANTS + YOU
Utilizing the various sections of MFBG, students will learn about useful plants and how these plants are beneficial to humans. Examples will include plants as medicine and other everyday uses. Students will also explore the correlation between plants and mental health using therapeutic horticulture practices.
Topics: Life Science, Social Science, Sustainability, Health and Safety
GENERAL TOUR
A leisurely, educational walk through the garden. Each tour is focused on seasonal highlights. Tours are 1-2 hours depending on class size and scheduling.
Topics: General garden
Standards based on teacher preference