My Desert Jungle
Students explore works from Jeannie Baker’s Desert Jungle book and exhibition to learn about thriving desert landscapes, biodiversity, and experience the wonder of time spent in nature.
Stage 1, 2 and 3
Science and Geography
2 hours
Rathborne Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Minimum charges apply. Discounts apply for full day programs!
Limited time only
This excursion is run in conjunction with the Jeannie Baker Desert Jungle exhibition and will therefore only be available from 20 May until 5 July 2024. Don't miss out, book your spot now!
Inspiration from the Desert Jungle exhibition
Desert Jungle, an exhibition of stunning artworks from renowned children’s author Jeannie Baker is coming to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Bring your students and join our skilled educators to explore the Garden and the exhibition, to learn about biodiversity, thriving desert landscapes, connection to place, and to experience the wonders of time spent in nature.
Through visual arts and literature, close observation, mindfulness and art making, students explore ideas about their relationship to the natural world and learn about the benefits of connection to the natural environment.
Students will
- Explore the Desert Jungle exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
- Visit the Succulent Garden and explore the amazing adaptations that make these plants survivors
- Learn about desert landscapes, plant adaptation and biodiversity
- Experience the benefits of connecting to nature using five senses and nature play
- Complete an ephemeral art making activity
Key content
- Learn about desert landscapes, plant adaptation and biodiversity
- Engage with storytelling to learn about how to care for their environment
- Develop a sense of wonder through sensory exploration of the Botanic Garden
Links to New South Wales curriculum
Focus Syllabus Outcomes
Science
- Describes ways that different places in the environment provide for the needs of living things (ST1-11LW)
- Describes that living things have life cycles, can be distinguished from non-living things and grouped, based on their observable features (ST2-10LW)
- Describes how structural features and other adaptations of living things help them to survive in their environment (ST3-10LW)
- Describes some physical conditions of the environment and how these affect the growth and survival of living things (ST3-11LW)
Geography
- Describes features of places and the connections people have with places (GE1-1)
- Examines the features and characteristics of places and environments (GE2-1)
- Identifies ways in which people interact with and care for places (GE1-2)
- Describes the ways people, places and environments interact (GE2-2)
- Describes the diverse features and characteristics of places and environments (GE3-1)
- Explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments (GE3-2)
“Open your heart, listen, and see what wonders show themselves”
Create a full-day program
Combine your Botanic Gardens of Sydney excursion with the stage 2 and 3 Visual Literacy in Action excursion at the State Library of NSW.
Related excursions
Sydney Science Trail excursions are back this August. Explore the program and book your primary school class excursion for National Science Week.
Students will investigate a wide variety of local native plants that are integral in the life of First Nations peoples.
Explore the history through hands on experiences to gain insight into First Nations peoples experiences of settlement and compare ways of knowing, being and doing between these two cultures.