Brisbane Botanic Gardens - Lessons in the Gardens booking enquiry

Use this form to submit an enquiry to book a Brisbane Botanic Gardens' 'Lessons in the Gardens' lesson.

Requested lesson details

All primary school lessons are 1.5 hours in length and all secondary school lessons are two hours in length unless otherwise stated.

Most lessons are held at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha. Some lessons are available at the City Botanic Gardens and availability will be indicated on the form.

Planetarium bookings

If you are planning to visit the Planetarium as a part of your excursion to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, please make a booking with the Planetarium first and then complete this form to arrange your lessons in the gardens.

Class size, structure and cost estimate

Depending on lesson selection, up to 120 students can attend any one session, with class sizes a maximum of 30 students. Up to three sessions a day can be held.

Costs given are for the 2024-25 financial year. If classes are booked for the following financial year, the rates for that year will apply as invoices are issued on the day of the visit.

Current cost is $8.80 per child with a minimum charge of $176.90 (incl. GST) for groups of up to 20 students. An exemption to the minimum charge can be requested but is not guaranteed to be given. Teachers and parents are not charged for attending.

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1 Start 2 About your group 3 About your visit 4 Contact details 5 Sign and submit 6 Complete
Select up to three lessons
Lesson one
Select a lesson from the Australian curriculum.

Our senses and the living world

Students use their senses to explore and observe the world of living things (plants and animals) in the botanic gardens. Through hands-on activities students investigate the needs of these living things and come to understand how their needs are met.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Living things and their habitat

Students explore a variety of habitats within the botanic gardens. Through exploration and observation links are made between the needs and external features of living things and their habitats. Students consider what makes a healthy habitat and the possible effects of habitat change.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Life stages

Using habitats found in the botanic gardens students investigate living things found here. Students consider how living things have a series of life stages and that their needs may change as they grow.

Duration: 1.5 hours

What's living in the gardens?

In a hands-on approach, students investigate and observe both living (plants and animals), and non-living things in various botanic gardens’ habitats. Observation and investigation opportunities are available for students to collect data, and then identify and group things according to characteristics of living, non-living or once-living things.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Habitat relationships

Students investigate various plant and animal interactions and relationships that are present in habitats found in the botanic gardens. Particular roles of living things (producers, consumers, decomposers) are examined. The positive and negative impacts that humans have on living things are also considered.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Adaptations in the gardens

Using various plant and animal habitats found within the botanic gardens, students develop an understanding of the functions of various adaptations found on the plants and animals living there. Students investigate how features of these habitats influenced the development of these adaptations.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Investigating the gardens

Students participate in a field study using a botanic gardens’ habitat. They identify the features of, and investigate and collect data for that habitat and then relate this information to the types of living things found there. Students are encouraged to use the data collected to create a habitat profile.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Classifying plants and animals

Students investigate botanic gardens’ habitats and participate in activities designed to develop an understanding of scientific classification (plant and animal) and how the use of dichotomous keys assist with this classification process.

Duration: 2 hours

From algae to angiosperms

Use living plant specimens to explore plant evolution from algae through to angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological and anatomical data allows students to understand the cladistical approach to classifying plants.

Duration: 2 hours

Investigating Cladistics – real world applications

Building on ‘From algae to angiosperms’ students firstly examine the morphology and then the DNA sequences of a selection of plant species in order to construct cladograms representing the evolutionary relationships between them.

Duration: 2 hours

Exploring a local place

Students investigate the Temperate Garden Lagoon and its surrounds. Engaging in activities that assist them to identify and explore the natural, managed and constructed features of this place, students conclude by collectively creating a map highlighting these features.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Exploring special places in the gardens

Students visit three special places within the botanic gardens. At each location they explore the place and gather data, including the key features of each one. This data is then used by the students to create a mud map about one of the places visited.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Places are both similar and different

Using directions and map reading skills students locate and investigate three climate types (arid, temperate and tropical) within the botanic gardens. The features of these climate types, adaptations of endemic plant species and the needs of people who live there are explored.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Plants are important everywhere

Students explore the botanic gardens to locate three different plant species native to South America, Africa and Australia. After learning where these plants grow and how they are important to the people in these countries, students explore a plant of unknown origin, considering possible uses and how it might be sustainably grown and used.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Sensorama

Explore the exciting world of plants using language and the senses of smell, sight, touch and sound. Students create and take home a fragrant potpourri sachet to remind them of their botanical explorations.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Hands on art

Students explore shape, line, colour and texture in hands-on art activities that focus on nature as a source of artistic inspiration. (Years Prep-3). Students examine the artistic possibilities of using natural images and vegetation. They experiment with patterns, balance, structure and contrast through sketch and making their own creations from natural materials. (Years 4-6).

Duration: 1.5 hours

Aboriginal games, arts and crafts

Students try string-making and painting, along with playing a selection of traditional Aboriginal games. Students also view Indigenous arts and crafts and learn how they are made, what materials are used and their cultural significance.

Note: adapted to suit the age/year level of the class.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Aboriginal use of rainforest plants

Investigates how specific plants are/were used by Aboriginal communities for food, tools and medicines. Students examine and taste some bush foods and consider the diverse role of plants in Aboriginal culture.

Duration: 2 hours

Japanese Garden

Examines the cultural significance of Japanese gardens and investigates the overall effect of the design features. Students use the setting as inspiration for Japanese sumi-e painting and haiku poetry.

Duration: 2 hours

The active and healthy garden

Students learn about sustainable gardening, create a vegetable and herb container garden for their classroom and use fresh herbs/vegetables to create a healthy snack. Includes a walk through the Kitchen Garden looking at the worm farm and compost heap, picking fresh herbs and tasting some seasonal produce.

Duration: 3 hours

City Gardens time traveller

Step back in time as students explore the history of Brisbane through the City Botanic Gardens and its vital role in the establishment of the Colony of Brisbane. Enjoy the convict role-play and then discover some of the historically significant plants still living in the gardens today.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Where would you like the lesson held?
Select lesson location *
This lesson is only available at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha.
Select lesson location *
This lesson is only available at the City Botanic Gardens.
Select lesson location *
Preferred date of lesson
A minimum of ten (10) business days lead time is required for all bookings. Lessons are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Preferred lesson time: *
Please keep in mind that if your students need a food/toilet break, this time needs to be factored in to your visit before or after the lesson.
:
How far will students be through the topic? *
Are there any particular areas of interest you would like discussed in the lesson? *
Are there any further requirements? *
Is there an assessment item associated with your planned visit to the Botanic Gardens? *
Are you booking or already booked for a Planetarium lesson on your preferred date? *
Time of Planetarium booking *
01 July 2024