Children's Garden & Education

Discovery Programs for Elementary School Age Groups

Embark on a learning adventure in the Children’s Garden with one of our group education programs for children age 6 - 12. These active hands-on programs bring plant science to life and reinforce SOL concepts and vocabulary. Class size is limited to 25 students. Programs are available at 9:00, 10:15 and 11:30 Monday-Friday. These programs can be reserved by contacting a registrar at 804-262-9887 x322.

Program Descriptions

SCHOOL YEAR Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 Click here for printer-friendly version

FALL 2010

Garden Explorers | KINDERGARTEN
The sights, sounds, scents, textures and tastes of the garden come alive in this sensory exploration of the Children’s Garden. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL K.2)

Small Sprouts to Garden Giants | 1ST GRADE
Starting with an investigation of seeds and ending with a study of full-grown giants of the plant world, students gain knowledge about the life process of plants. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 1.4 and 1.5)

Plants, What Good Are They? | 2nd GRADE
Our interdependence with plants is emphasized as students learn more about how plants make oxygen, and how we use plants for food, medicine and clothing. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 2.4 and 2.8)

Inside a Blossom | 4th GRADE
Students discover the function of individual floral parts as they dissect a blossom, examine the pistil and stamen, and touch the sticky stigma. Each child participates in the hands-on gardening work of the day. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 4.4.)

Tree Traits | Kindergarten - 5th GRADE
Through the careful study of the characteristic shape, color and texture of leaves, bark and seed pods, students learn basic skills for identifying trees. Exploration of  these unique differences gives students an understanding of the classification system used by scientists for categorizing living organisms. This program is adapted to each grade level. (Meets Science SOL Objectives K.8, K.9, 1.7, 2.7, 3.8, 4.4, and 5.5)

Seasons & Cycles of the Powhatan Indians | 2nd - 5th GRADES
Students investigate the calendar of the Powhatan Indians and learn how they adapted their diet to seasonal changes. Each group gathers food from the trail, uses natural fibers to make rope, weaves a mat or plays a traditional game. (Meets State History & Social Science SOL Objectives VA.2 and VS.3. Science 1.7, 2.7, 3.8, 3.10 and 4.7)

Mother Nature’s Garden | 3rd - 5th GRADES
Students discover habitat and species diversity as they investigate various plant communities including a wetland, a pond, and a forest. Students put the scientific method into practice by making observations, measuring and collecting data and forming hypotheses. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 3.6)

SPRING 2011

Garden Explorers | KINDERGARTEN
The sights, sounds, scents, textures and tastes of the garden come alive in this sensory exploration of the Children’s Garden. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL K.2)

Small Sprouts to Garden Giants | 1ST GRADE
Starting with an investigation of seeds and ending with a study of full-grown giants of the plant world, students gain knowledge about the life process of plants. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 1.4 and 1.5)

Plants, What Good Are They? | 2nd GRADE
Our interdependence with plants is emphasized as students learn more about how plants make oxygen, and how we use plants for food, medicine and clothing. Each child also participates in hands-on gardening activities. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 2.4 and 2.8)

Inside a Blossom | 4th GRADE
Students discover the function of individual floral parts as they dissect a blossom, examine the pistil and stamen, and touch the sticky stigma. Each child participates in the hands-on gardening work of the day. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 4.4.)

Mother Nature’s Garden | 3rd - 5th GRADES
Students discover habitat and species diversity as they investigate various plant communities including a wetland, a pond, and a forest. Students put the scientific method into practice by making observations, measuring and collecting data and forming hypotheses. (Meets State Science SOL Objective 3.6)

Young Gardeners | 3rd - 5th GRADES

There are many tasks required to start a garden and keep it growing and healthy.

Beginning with the right soil and seeds and ending with compost, students participate

in the cycle necessary to start, grow, and maintain a garden. ( Meets State Science SOL

objectives 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, and 3.10)

Children's Garden Group Information Guide

Our Children's Garden Group Information Guide is REQUIRED reading for any group that wants to book a trip to the garden. It can be accessed here. Below are links to individual sections, but make sure to familiarize yourself with the entire document before booking your class.