Educational Programs offered by the

Camden Children's Garden

Please call (856) 365-8733 for additional information on any of these lessons or contact

the Garden Educator at bpayne@camdenchildrensgarden.org

GRADES K-2

Length of programs for K-2: 30min
Cost of programs for K-2: $45.00

Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar

Did you ever wonder what a caterpillar does in a garden? Join us and get the answers to your caterpillar questions. Trace the development of a butterfly from an egg to an adult. We will read and act out parts from Eric Carle's, The Very Hungry Caterpillar .

NJS: 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1, 5.5, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 2A, 4F, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11C, 12A.

Tree Homes

Some scientists claim that a tree can be home to 500 creatures. What parts of a tree are used by these organisms and how are they used? Explore the many creatures that depend on trees.

NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.8, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 5A, 5C, 5D, 5E, 11C.

Are You My Mother?

Explore a wide variety of seeds. Touch and sort the seeds by color, size, and shape. What is the largest and smallest seed? Match a seed to the plant it produces. For our on-site audience, plant a seed and take it home.

NJS: 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.10, 6.6

Benchmarks: 1B, 2A, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 8A, 9C, 11C, 11D, 12A, 12D.

Recipe for Soil

What is going on below your feet? Take a close-up look at soil, its many components and the organisms that live in it. Create your own soil recipe, then for our on-site audience, plant a seed to take home and see if your plant likes your special concoction.

NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 4C, 4D, 5C, 5D, 5E, 11A, 11C, 12C, 12D.

Grades 3-4

Length of programs for 3-4: 45min

Cost of programs for 3-4: $60.00

Butterfly Habits

What makes a butterfly an insect? How do they protect themselves? Where do they go in the winter? Learn about the interesting life cycle of butterflies and the ways evolution has helped them protect themselves from becoming someone else's lunch.

NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.10, 6.6.

Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 4F, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11C, 12A.

Tree Detective

What is a tree? Did you know trees have names? How do scientists classify trees? We will look at the various characteristics that help identify and classify a tree. We'll examine leaves, bark, and buds to observe more closely the differences among tree species.

NJS: 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.8.

Benchmarks: 1B, 3A, 4B, 5A, 5F, 11D.

Have Seed, Will Travel

Check out how and why seeds travel from their parents. Some plants hitchhike, while some blow in the wind. Can you guess which seeds float? How do animals help seeds travel? For our on-site audience, plant a seed in an "eco-pot", and then take it home.

NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.10, 6.6.

Benchmarks: 1B, 4B, 4G, 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11C, 11D.

Let it Rot!

Take a look at recycling for your garden. Don't waste all of your treasures by tossing them in the garbage; create a mini compost heap. Learn which things to add and which to avoid in a healthy compost pile, and which critters can help.

NJS: 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.10, 6.6.

Benchmarks: 4C, 4D, 5D, 5E, 11A, 11C, 12C.

Grades 5-6

Length of programs for 5-6: 45min

Cost of programs for 5-6: $60.00

Bouquet for Butterflies

Why are some flowers very special for butterflies while other flowers have very few visitors? Take a closer look at pollination and who pollinates what flower. Some flowers have different shapes to welcome some pollinators while shutting out the competition.

NJS: 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11C.

Photosynthesis

Discover the source of life on the planet and learn how trees can transform this vital energy from the sun into food. What parts of a tree play a role in transforming the vital energy from the sun into food?

NJS: 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 2A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5C, 5E, 8C.

Germination

Have you ever looked inside of a seed? Compare and contrast different types of seeds by their leaf structure and learn the function of each part. Illustrate the plant life cycle.

NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11A, 11C.

Soil Detective

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it! Get out those test tubes and soil samplers. Check the pH and use a thermometer to determine soil temperature. Identify and classify different types of soil.

NJS: 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.10.

Benchmarks: 1B, 3A, 4C, 5D, 12A, 12C.

Grades 7-12

Length of programs for 7-12: 45min

Cost of programs for 7-12: $75.00

DNA Typing

How can the police discover which suspect is guilty of the crime committed with just a sample of saliva? Learn about DNA and how it can be used in forensic science.

NJS: 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5.

Benchmarks: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4D, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5F, 6A, 8F, 10H, 11C.

Genetics: Mendel's Peas

Discover dominant and recessive traits among yourselves, then study peas. Figure it all out on a Punnett Square .

NJS: 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7.

Benchmarks: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 5A, 5B, 5F, 10H, 11B, 11C, 12B.

The following classes can be adapted to specific grade levels at the request of the teacher.

A Leaf of a Different Color . Why do leaves change color in the fall? Follow a leaf from beneath the bud in winter to a mulch pile the following fall. NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.10. Benchmarks: 1B, 3A, 4D, 5A, 5C, 5D, 5E

Bountiful Biodiversity . Biodiversity affects our lives every day. What is biodiversity and why is it important to us? NJS: 5.2, 5.5, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2. Benchmarks: 1A, 1C, 3A, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E, 5F, 7A, 7D, 7G, 9C, 9F, 11A, 11D.

Birds of a Feather . Birds are very interesting animals. Learn how different species of birds have adapted to survive in the environments in which they are found. NJS: 5.2, 5.5,5.10. Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5F, 9C, 11D.

Carnivorous Plants . Did you know that some plants eat insects? Learn where these plants live and why they need the extra nutrition. NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.10. Benchmarks: 1B, 3B, 3C, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11D.

Chocolate and Vanilla . Ever wonder where these fabulous flavors come from? Explore the intriguing food web and processes that brings us two of the most delectable food products to our homes. NJS: 5.5, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5, 6.6 Benchmarks: 3A, 4B, 5A, 5D, 5E, 5F, 7G, 11A, 11C.

Grasses for the Masses . Can you name four grasses that we eat? Learn about the importance of grains to all cultures around the world. NJS: 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.10. Benchmarks: 1C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4C, 4D, 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 6A, 7E, 7G, 8A.

Learning from the Lorax . Learn why it is important to conserve natural resources. We will read Dr. Seuss's “ The Lorax ” and discuss the effects of deforestation. NJS: 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2. Benchmarks: 3A, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E, 7A, 7D, 7G, 11C, 12A.

Naturally Nutritious . What happens to body chemistry on an unbalanced diet? Learn why an apple a day keeps the doctor away. NJS: 2.2, 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7. Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 5C, 5E, 6C, 6E.

Ocean Floors . Where are ocean vents and what kinds of organisms live there? Starting where the land meets the sea, learn about what kinds of plants and animals live in our oceans. NJS: 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.10, 6.6. Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 3A, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 11A, 11C.

Tropical Rainforests . Discover the wonders of the tropical rainforests. Learn why they are so important to all our lives. NJS: 5.5, 5.5, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5, 6.6. Benchmarks: 3A, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E, 5F, 7D, 7G, 8B, 8C, 11A, 11C.

Weird Weather . Weather affects our every day lives, even if we do not think about it every day. Learn about atmospheric changes that cause the weather we see and feel. NJS: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 6.1, 6.6. Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 2A, 2C, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4E, 5C, 5D, 5E, 6A, 11C, 12A.

WETlands . Explore the wetlands around the Delaware River through story and pictures. Discuss the many reasons why wetlands are important. NJS: 5.3, 5.5, 5.7, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.6. Benchmarks: 3A, 4B, 4C, 5D, 5E, 11A.

Where's the Water ? Have you ever wondered where the snow goes when it melts from the top of a mountain in the Spring? Follow a water molecule on an interesting journey that can last the life span of the Earth. NJS: 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.6. Benchmarks: 1C, 3A, 4B, 4C, 4G, 8A, 8C, 12A.

Wondrous Whales . What makes whales different from dolphins? Learn how many different whales there are and what makes each species unique. NJS: 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.6. Benchmarks: 1B, 1C, 3A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5F, 7A, 7D, 7G, 10J, 11C, 11D, 12A.

Yummy Plant Parts . Did you know that a carrot is a root and a potato is a tuber? Learn what part of a plant your favorite vegetables come from. NJS: 2.1, 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.10. Benchmarks: 1B, 4E, 5A, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 6E, 7G, 8A, 11C, 12D.

Please call (856) 365-8733 for additional information on any of these lessons or to schedule a lesson. If you do not find a lesson that suits your needs, please call us to customize one for your students.

Thank you for your interest in our programs!