ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

5TH GRADE GRANT-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS

Environmental Education Programs Overview 5th Grade Grant Programs K-12 Programs K-12 Program Fees Programs for Scouts, Homeschool Groups and Pre-schools 5th Grade Program News Special Events

The grants supporting the 5^th Grade programs at The Oregon Garden cover the costs of the program, transportation by a school bus, the bus driver, admission and program fees. The grant-supported programs are available to all Oregon schools for one visit per school year. These grants are made possible through the Roth's Benefit Education Foundation. Please schedule the school bus after you receive confirmation of your trip date and arrange with your school to pay for the bus. The lead teacher will receive a bus reimbursement form the day of the school program. The program typically takes four hours to complete; this includes a half hour for lunch. Lessons are between 45 and 60 minutes long. We have a covered picnic area available, if your students would like to bring a bagged lunch. The earliest a program may start is 9:30 am. The maximum number of fifth grade students we are able to accommodate per day is 75. Larger groups will be scheduled for two different dates. Students will be divided into groups of 25 and rotate through the stations. The sessions may cover three or four of the topics listed below and described in our school programs brochure. Please rank your preferences and we will try to accommodate your top choices. Visits may take place March 1 - December 1.

Grants are given on a first come first served basis, so register soon!!!

Click here for the 5TH GRADE GRANT-SUPPORTED PROGRAM REQUEST FORM.

Contact: Fran Gray Environmental Education Coordinator (503) 584 7256 or (503) 874 8248

Programs Available:

Lewis and Clark

Celebrate the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial while participating in the authentic plant studies once performed by these two famous explorers.

The Love of Insects

Identify insects and other arthropods adapted to all different types of environments. Develop an appreciation for beneficial creepy crawlies!

Pollination Station

After dissecting a flower, younger students become the parts of a flower and act out the pollination process. Older students complete detailed worksheets explaining all of the different flower parts necessary to form a seed. If there is time, they then stroll through the garden studying the different shapes of flowers, predicting what kind of animal pollinates the plant, and observing pollinators in action!

Habitat Huddle and Hike

Students become detectives in search of clues of wildlife at The Oregon Garden. After determining what makes a habitat, students examine a log to identify what lives there and why. Next, students hike through the garden to find evidence of who makes its home here; woodpeckers and frogs beware, here come tiny detectives looking to locate your home.

Plant Adaptations: Key to Survival

Students investigate the function of plant parts. They examine special features, which allow plants to survive in stressful environments including dry and wet conditions, poor soil, and winter freezes. Through investigations, they discover that every living organism must meet certain basic needs to survive, and that each has a unique set of adaptations.

Lovely Leaves

Focus students' observation and classification skills through an exploration of deciduous trees. Students study distinguishing features of leaves, learn how to use a dichotomous key, and then put their new knowledge to work keying common deciduous trees on the Garden grounds.

Amazing Aqua Life

How do wetlands help people, wildlife, and the environment? Students explore the various answers to this question by recording their wetland observations in a nature journal. Aquatic invertebrates snacking on algae will be collected and sorted. Students will classify the invertebrates and determine their life cycle phase.

The Great Garden Tour

Do monkeys really put together puzzles in a tree? Can you name two plants that eat flies for breakfast? Students will take a guided walking tour through the garden that will help them answer these questions. Interesting plants found in the garden are highlighted and fun plant facts will be learned by all. Time: 45, 60, or 90 minute tours available

Nature and Science Journaling

“Draw me!” “Write a poem about me!” The Oregon Garden loves to have students studying nature and recording what they see, feel, smell, and hear. Students receive a free journal provided for by the Roth's Benefit Education Foundation to write down their thoughts and observations.

Birds: From Seed To Song

What birds like to sing and eat at The Oregon Garden? Introduce students to the wonderful world of birding. We will play games that explain bird basics and then we will set out with our binoculars to see what birds are visiting us.

Tracking Biodiversity

Are those deer or elk prints? What Oregon wildlife is endangered? Students will learn about finding and examining tracks and signs of wildlife while discussing real biodiversity and wildlife management issues.