Explore nature’s seasonal changes in Hillwood’s gardens while practicing scientific observation skills and artistic expression. Students will discover how plants and wildlife survive and thrive in the garden environment throughout the seasons. Following a guided exploration of the gardens, students will create a mixed media collage reflecting the signs of the current season.
After participating in this field trip, students will be able to:
• Identify signs of seasonal change in a natural environment that reflect how plants change over time as they respond to seasonal weather conditions
• Observe the diversity of plants and wildlife in a garden and identify what plants need to survive and thrive in this environment and how humans support this
• Use a variety of materials to create a mixed media collage inspired by plants and signs of the season observed in gardens
• Develop speaking and listening skills by actively participating in group discussion to share observations, express thoughts and ideas, and ask and answer questions
Program agenda:
10 min | Welcome/ Introduction
• Divide students into 2-4 small groups (depending on class size) for guided garden exploration
50 min | Guided Garden Exploration
• Each small group is led by one of Hillwood’s Museum Teachers. Groups rotate through visiting 4-5 gardens, spending 10-12 minutes in each garden area exploring the garden through observation, inquiry-based discussion, and movement activities.
• Examples of what students do during the garden exploration include:
o Finding evidence of Hillwood’s gardeners working in tandem with nature to care for plants in the Greenhouse and Cutting Garden – discovering water sources, soil for plants to grow in, glass windows letting in light, etc.
o Identifying signs of the season in the Japanese-style garden – such as leaves changing color in fall, or the cherry blossom blooming in spring – and discussing how the garden might look different in another season (ex: waterfall turning to ice; snow gathering on the lanterns).
o In the Four Seasons Overlook students see statues representing the different seasons and use their bodies to pose and create their own versions of the season statues – for example, acting out throwing a snowball in winter, or swimming in the pool in summer.
20 min | Mixed Media Collage Art Project
10 min | Wrap-up (incl. survey)