Home School Learning at the Australian Botanic Garden

Join Us for an Unforgettable Day of Discovery at the Australian Botanic Garden!

Turn your home schooling day into an unforgettable adventure at the stunning Australian Botanic Garden. Our immersive sessions spark curiosity while aligning seamlessly with the Science & Technology and Geography curriculums.

Imagine your children diving into hands-on experiences, embarking on discovery walks to explore the unique ecosystems in the Gardens. They will engage in experiment activities to develop observation and recording skills and discover the natural uses of native plants.
We celebrate Sustainability and shine a spotlight on Dharawal Histories and Cultures. Through dedicated First Nations content, your children will gain a deeper understanding of Country, connection, and culture.

This program is designed for K-12 with three concurrent programs for students learning at lower primary, upper primary and high school levels.

Please note: Children must be supervised by a responsible adult on the day.

While there is flexibility to book students into any of the programs, parents/carers are required to provide supervision for all students at all times. The three groups will be working in different parts of the garden across the day. We strongly recommend arranging supervision for your child/children before the day of the program.

Activities on the day include:

Primary K-2
Morning:

• Students will explore the Connections garden and discover how the Dharawal people use native plants for a range of purposes.
• They will deepen their understanding of the Dharawal peoples connection to Country, culture and community.

Afternoon:

• Students will participate in nature play and shelter building.
• They will learn about the needs of different animals and create mini habitats for each animal.
• Students will enjoy the beautiful lakeside and dip net for aquatic creatures.

Primary 3-6
Morning:

• Students will use field work to research the unique Cumberland Plains Woodland, and practice their botanical illustration skills documenting native plants.
• They will conduct a hands on scientific investigation into whether specific Australian plants need fire and smoke to complete their lifecycles, including planting seeds to take back to school to complete the investigation.

Afternoon:

• Students will learn about First Nations ways of interacting with the environment, using sustainable management practices that are thousands of years old.
• They will investigate how natural resources are sourced, selected and used for food, medicine, tools and weapons.

Secondary
Morning:

• Students will learn about the ecology of protected, remnant environments and how the Garden is effectively managing environmental change to enhance sustainability.
• They will use a variety of field tests and use their data to conduct an ecosystem health assessment.

Afternoon:

• Students will engage with Food in Australia by investigating and tasting bush foods to discover how First Nations’ peoples’ diets began to evolve when first settlers farmed food on this land.
• They will learn how bushfoods are incorporated into contemporary cuisine