Young Botanists

Young Botanist Art Series | Foundation – Year 2

This early years program immerses students in the world of Art and Science through creative expression.

Government school students will interact with specialist scientists such as mycologists, botanists, ecologists, and ornithologists learning and exploring all things science!

Students will also partake in hands on art activities run by passionate artists to help them makes sense of their new learnings.

This program is available for a morning or afternoon timeslot: 10:15 - 11:45am or 12:45 - 2:15pm. Students must be accompanied by a teacher.

The program is coordinated by experienced Learning Facilitators.

Program Availability:

• This program is available in-person at our Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
• Choose from the set dates outlined.
• This program is for high-ability students (Foundation – 2).

Students will:

• Have the opportunity to interact with expert artists and scientists.
• Engage with the natural collections of the Botanic Gardens.
• Use their senses for exploration and discovery.
• Consolidate their learnings through open-ended art activities.

Key focuses:

• Hands on experiential learning.
• Scientific observation and exploration.
• Creative and expressive arts.

Program Outline

Weird and Wonderful Botany 

Tuesday March 4: 10:15 - 11:45 or 12:45 - 2:15 (Duration 1.5 hours) 

Wednesday March 5: 10:15 - 11:45

Have you ever wondered why plants have different shapes, colours and features? 

Explore the Melbourne Gardens and learn about the weird and wonderful world of botany.

Hear from a scientist and learn all about plant features and the unique adaptions they have developed to survive. 

Along the way, children will be invited to draw, helping them to consolidate their new learnings and curiosities. 

Fantastic Fungi

Tuesday June 3: 10:15 - 11:45 or 12:45 - 2:15 (Duration 1.5 hours) 

Engage your students in the fascinating world of Fungi through Art and Science based experiences at the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Meet a Mycologist,  hear stories and explore real life specimens of Fungi. 

Children will be inspired by all things mycology. 

They will be invited to express their new learnings through creative art practices with the guidance of an experienced Artist.

Spring Seeds

Tuesday 16 September 10:15 - 11:45 or 12:45 - 2:15 (Duration 1.5 hours) 

Inspire your students through the wonderful world of Seeds through Art and Science based experiences.  

Spend time with a Botanist and learn about all types of seeds and their superpowers. 

Students will be invited to express their new learnings through creative art practices with the guidance of an experienced artist as they create a seed inspired artwork to take home.  

Birds

Tuesday 21 October 10:15 - 11:45 or 12:45 - 2:15 (Duration 1.5 hours) 

Meet the wonderful array of bird life at the Royal Botanic Gardens alongside an Ornithologist.

Watch cormorants dive, cockatoos fly and wrens fluttering about in the garden habitat.

Students will slow down, observe and learn about our feathered friends, their habitats, calls and patterns.

They will be invited to express their learnings with an experienced artist through creative practices.  

This FREE program is funded by Department of Education's Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series. Eligible schools may apply for additional funding for transportation and CRTs via DET.